MD Governor:Limit opioid prescriptions to 7 days, boost penalty for dealers whose drugs cause fatal overdoses

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday announced new measures aimed at addressing the state’s growing opioid epidemic, including proposals to limit prescriptions for pain medications and increase prison terms for drug dealers convicted of distributing opioids that result in lethal overdoses.  Hogan (R) also signed an executive order establishing a central “command center” to coordinate local and state efforts to combat opioid abuse, a problem that resulted in 1,400 fatal overdoses in Maryland last year.  The governor, whose cousin died of a heroin overdose, said he will introduce legislation to restrict opoiod prescriptions to a seven-day supply, with exceptions for certain types of treatment such as for cancer and hospice care. Many experts say a growing number of heroin addicts started using the drug as less-expensive way to feed an addiction to prescription painkillers.