MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A new bill in South Carolina would put limits on how many opioids could be given to a patient for an initial prescription.
Right now, initial prescriptions of opioids don’t have a limit for acute or postoperative pain. State representative Russell Fry is one of several lawmakers trying to get nine opioid-related bills through the Statehouse.
He says the initial prescription bill is aimed to get excess pills off the street and out of medicine cabinets.
“It was important that we just start that conversation because it’s happening all around us,” said Fry.
The bill limits initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a five day supply and postoperative pain to a 14 day supply.
“There’s been no limit in the past,” Fry explained. After the initial prescription, patients can go for a follow up visit and their doctor could determine if they needed more medicine.
Fry said the idea for the bill came from others states’ initiatives as well as a recent CDC report which says patients with acute pain typically only need three days worth of pills.
“We really just wanted to start a conversation here in South Carolina on what we can do to affectively address the opioid epidemic,” Fry added.
The bill, and eight other opioid-related bills, are set to go before the full house next week.