BOSTON— An emotional Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday signed what he called the most comprehensive law in the nation to combat an opioid addiction scourge, including a seven-day limit on first-time prescriptions for opiate painkillers.
The Republican governor struggled to maintain his composure while recalling families he had met — some standing behind him at the Statehouse ceremony — who had lost loved ones to a “deadly, merciless epidemic” and others who were desperately seeking help for a family member.
In recent years, the opiate-abuse epidemic has claimed thousands of lives in Massachusetts. The law, which was given final approval by the Legislature last week, establishes new rules and procedures for the prescribing of opiate painkillers. Supporters of the limits say most heroin addicts first become hooked on painkillers that were either prescribed or obtained illegally.
“This is the first law in the nation to limit an opioid prescription and I hope other states consider pursuing something similar,” Baker said.
Janis McGrory, of Harwich, said her daughter Liz’s addiction started with pills and quickly spiraled out of control.
“Her life was years of numerous detoxes, programs, hospitals, overdoses, court appearances, jail stays and even homelessness,” said McGrory. Her daughter, a high school honor student, died in 2011 of a heroin overdose at age 23.
