Emotional Gov. Baker Signs Law Aimed At Cutting Opioid Overdoses, Deaths
BOSTON (CBS/AP) — A bill aimed at curbing the state's opioid addiction crisis has become law.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill Monday morning at the State House. He fought back tears as he spoke about the many families torn apart because a loved one was lost due to drug addiction.
"I want to thank you all for sharing your stories," he said. "It made today's bill passage signal to you that the Commonwealth is listening and we will keep fighting for all of you."
At one point, Baker became too emotional to speak. The silence was filled by applause from a bipartisan gathering that included Democratic legislative leaders, Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
"If this bill helps one family and one addict, it's done its job," said Walsh, who recovered from alcoholism early in his adult life.
Baker pushed for the legislation as Massachusetts struggles to stem a growing tide of opioid deaths, including overdoses from heroin.
The law limits initial painkiller prescriptions to a seven-day supply and set an evaluation requirement within 24 hours for overdose victims seeking help at hospital emergency rooms.
The legislation gives patients the ability to fill only part of their painkiller prescriptions at a time.
It also requires schools to verbally screen students for potential drug abuse. Parents could opt their child out of the screenings.
The Massachusetts House and Senate unanimously approved the bill last week.
The governor believes "this is the strongest and most comprehensive legislation in the country to prevent, educate, and treat folks dealing with opioid addiction."
"There are very few things that are as personal to many of us as this is," he said. "It's very easy for all of us to walk in the shoes of a lot of the people who have been so horribly affected by this because in many ways it's a family issue.
On multiple occasions, Baker said parents have told him "it's been hell" battling opioid addiction.
Janice McGrory of Harwich, who lost her daughter, Elizabeth, to a heroin overdose in 2011, said her daughter's addiction like many others started with prescription painkillers.
McGrory said her youngest daughter died five years ago at the age of 23. She recalled her being an active student with plans to attend college.
"Liz made the mistake of taking that first pill," McGrory said. "Within two years, she was a heroin addict. She once said to me 'Mom, I wish I'd never taken that first pill. I would rather have cancer.'"
Her daughter experienced multiple overdoses, detoxes, programs, court appearances, jail stays, and homelessness.
"Not a life I would've ever had dreamed my daughter would have and certainly not one she ever imagined," McGrory said.
McGrory says she tried everything to get her daughter help, but Elizabeth eventually died of an overdose.
"It breaks my heart to think that every day four kids are dying in the state of Massachusetts," she said.
The bill's passage "gives me great hope," McGrory said.
Ryan Tripp, who lost his son to a heroin overdose 11 months ago, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 the new law is important because it will help others in the state battling addiction.
"It's really hard to get them into the treatment they need," he said. "I fight every day to get these kids into treatment and it's hard. When they want help, it's really hard for them to get the help they need.
"I'm glad the governor is doing something. This is a great start and hopefully it will make a difference."
Senate President Stan Rosenberg said what used to be seen as a crime is now understood to be a disease.
Between 2012 and 2014, the number of confirmed unintentional opioid overdose deaths jumped 65 percent, to an estimated total of nearly 1,100 in 2014.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo said funerals for overdose victims had become a near weekly occurrence in his district, with the victims including kids he once coached in baseball.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
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