1     
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMENDMENTS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

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Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends the Utah Controlled Substances Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     requires a prescriber to discuss the risks of using an opiate with a patient or the
13     patient's guardian before issuing an initial opiate prescription.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     ENACTS:
20          58-37-19, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21     

22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 58-37-19 is enacted to read:
24          58-37-19. Opiate prescription consultation.
25          (1) As used in this section:
26          (a) "Hospice" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26-21-2.
27          (b) "Initial opiate prescription" means a prescription for an opiate to a patient who:

28          (i) has never previously been issued a prescription for an opiate; or
29          (ii) was previously issued a prescription for an opiate, but the date on which the current
30     prescription is being issued is more than one year after the date on which an opiate was
31     previously prescribed or administered to the patient.
32          (c) "Prescriber" means an individual authorized to prescribe a controlled substance
33     under this chapter.
34          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a prescriber may not issue an initial opiate
35     prescription without discussing with the patient, or the patient's parent or guardian if the patient
36     is under 18 years of age and is not an emancipated minor:
37          (a) the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opiate drugs;
38          (b) the dangers of taking opiates with alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other central
39     nervous system depressants;
40          (c) the reasons why the prescription is necessary;
41          (d) alternative treatments that may be available; and
42          (e) other risks associated with the use of the drugs being prescribed.
43          (3) This section does not apply to a prescription for:
44          (a) a patient who is currently in active treatment for cancer;
45          (b) a patient who is receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice; or
46          (c) a medication that is being prescribed to a patient for the treatment of the patient's
47     substance abuse or opiate dependence.