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March 3, 2008 issue
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
BILL: SB 157 – Opioid Treatment Programs
AUTHOR: Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis
SPONSOR: Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary
ISMA POSITION: Support
THIS WEEK: The bill was amended on the House floor and is eligible for a vote by the full House. If approved by the House, the bill will return to the Senate for final consideration.
The amendment on the House floor clarified a House committee amendment that would require an opioid treatment program (OTP) to test for certain illicit drugs a patient may be abusing while receiving treatment. The clarification that was inserted specified how the OTP must handle patients that fail such tests and does not require the patient be expelled from the program.
The House floor amendment also deleted language added in the House committee that would have required an OTP patient to ensure that he or she will be picked up by another responsible individual after receiving treatment.
The underlying bill would require more stringent regulatory standards for OTPs in Indiana than those required at the federal level. The ISMA is supportive of this move due to a resolution adopted at the 2007 ISMA House of Delegates.
The underlying bill, at the ISMA's request, will require development of standards for OTPs regarding the tapering of patients on and off an opioid treatment medication.
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