SAN DIEGO–San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan said her office is working in partnership with State Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) who today introduced Senate Bill 1109 in the California Legislature to help address the opioid epidemic in San Diego County and across the state of California.
The proposed legislation was drafted by the San Diego DA’s office, working with Senator Bates’ staff, and emphasizes education to reduce opioid overdoses and addiction.
“I’m honored to partner with Senator Bates on urgently passing critical laws that address the increase in opioids related overdose deaths in our community. Having personally talked with grieving parents who have lost young kids to this deadly epidemic, it was time for clear and effective action to save future lives,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “This legislation brings common sense solutions that protect consumers by telling them the truth about the real risk of addiction and overdose from prescription opiates. It also focuses on the duty of medical professionals and athletic school based programs on educating and informing minors and their parents about the risks of opiate based pain medications.”
Specifically, SB 1109 would:
Require continuing medical education of opioid prescribers to include the risks associated with opioid use;
2. Require a warning label on opioid prescription bottles that addresses the risk of addiction and overdose;
3. Require physicians who prescribe opioids to a minor to discuss risks with the minor’s parent or guardian before issuing the first prescription; and
4. Require youth sports organizations and schools that have athletic programs to annually give a document highlighting the risks of opioid use to each student-athlete and their parent/guardian, and to have the student-athlete and their parent/guardian sign the document.
“Education is one of the most powerful weapons which we can use to reduce opioid-related tragedies,” said Senator Bates. “I’m proud to work with District Attorney Summer Stephan on this bill to encourage better training for physicians and more information for patients. While this bill will not completely solve California’s opioid epidemic, it can help save lives as part of a broader legislative effort.”
While places like rural New England have become synonymous with opioid abuse, California is home to many tragedies. According to the California Department of Public Health, there were 1,925 opioid-linked overdose deaths in the state in 2016.
Young people are among the biggest abusers of opioids. According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, prescription drugs are second only to marijuana in teen drug abuse. One in five teens has abused a prescription pain medication.
The Senate Rules Committee will refer SB 1109 to the appropriate policy committees for hearings in the near future. District Attorney Summer Stephan is expected to testify in support of the bill.
