Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley recently announced that health care providers will soon be required to counsel patients about the risks of taking opioids before writing an initial prescription for the drugs. This new law will ensure that education happens before a prescription is written. Starting in June, health care providers will be required to provide information to a patient before prescribing an opioid for other than inpatient use. Some of this information includes the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioids and how to properly dispose of an expired, unused or unwanted controlled substance. The law also requires the development of an Opioid Start Talking form that that must be signed by the patient or a patient’s parent or guardian. This form certifies the provider shared the information and must be included in the patient’s medical record. For more information about opioids and the additional steps residents can take to protect themselves and loved ones, visit Michigan.gov/stopoverdoses.
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