It is well known that the country has been dealing with an opioid crisis for several years now, and South Carolina has been no exception. In 2016 there were 616 deaths from opioids in the state alone, and while the numbers are not out yet for 2017, they are expected to outpace those of the prior year. In order to combat the problem, in early June of 2018, Governor Henry McMaster signed a total of nine bills that many are hoping will help stem the epidemic.
One of the bills getting the most attention is one that states initial prescriptions given for opioids to combat things like post-surgery pain will be limited to just seven days. The bill will still provide relief to those that need it, but the time limit will be too short for an addiction to form.
Another bill would provide caregivers of people at risk of an overdose with Naloxone, an antidote that can help stave off an overdose. Those who believe they may experience an overdose will also be given access to the antidote drug.
Other bills dealt with minors who may need to use opioids. One now requires parents or guardians to sign a consent form before opioids are prescribed, along with strict instructions for doctors to educate young people and their families when a prescription is needed. Children will also be learning about the dangers of opioids and other drugs in school, as early as kindergarten, in the hopes that this crisis will not continue in the future.
“These are great strides that have been made in South Carolina,” said Ladson Howell of Howell & Christmas Injury Lawyers. “Lawmakers have been trying to implement ways to deal with the crisis for years. With the epidemic now being what it is, South Carolina and the rest of the country still have a long way to go. But these are definitely great first steps.”
Everyone within the state knows just how dangerous opioids are and how they can be accessed all too easily, particularly when in the form of prescription medication. The hope with these new measures is that the issues can be addressed so that in 2018, the number of deaths from the drugs start to fall for the first time in years.
