Manley: New Law Aims to Reduce Duplicate Prescriptions of Opioids

JOLIET, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is highlighting a new law that will require physicians to utilize a statewide system aimed at preventing individuals from going to different doctors and receiving multiple prescriptions for opioids and other abused drugs.

“Research has shown that prescription opioids are often gateway drugs to heroin and fentanyl,” Manley said. “In 2015, the General Assembly passed a law that created a system to monitor how controlled substances are being prescribed. Unfortunately, this program hasn’t been fully utilized yet, but this new law will require doctors to check for multiple prescriptions for opioids and will reduce the number of duplicative prescriptions.”

In 2015, Manley supported legislation that made it optional for physicians to enroll in the Prescription Monitoring Program, which tracks what individuals have been prescribed and how much of it they have received. Prescribers were then able to check this system to make sure that their patients have not recently received prescriptions for other controlled substances.

In order to make the process more effective, Manley voted for Senate Bill 772, which will require doctors to check the Prescription Monitoring Program before issuing a new prescription.

“Fully implementing the Prescription Monitoring Program will allow doctors to reduce the amount of prescription opioids in our community,” Manley said. “In addition, I continue to support efforts to expand access to affordable drug treatment programs and will work with legislators to force Governor Rauner to fully implement all legislation we’ve passed to address this crisis.”