Assembly Approves Anti-Heroin Package Of Bills

The state Assembly has approved a package of bills designed to slow the spread of heroin.

One bill would require opiate dispensers to enter prescriptions into a statewide database within 24 hours. The other bills in the package would require police who find an opiate prescription at an overdose scene to enter it in the database; methadone and pain clinics to register with the state; and require treatment programs using methadone to report the number of people receiving the medication annually to the state.

The bills’ author, Republican Rep. John Nygren, says the measures are designed to prevent prescription drug abuse that can lead to heroin addiction.

The Assembly approved all four bills on voice votes on Tuesday. The proposals now go to the state Senate.