Since 2011, CT has passed many laws related to opioids and naloxone. Some highlights from this legislation are below. To see the law in its entirety, click on the link.

Public Act 11-210: An Act Concerning Emergency Medical Assistance For Persons Experiencing An Overdose And The Designation of Certain Synthetic Stimulants As Controlled Substances

The goal was to encourage people to call 911 when an overdose occurs. The law states the person can’t be arrested for possession of drugs/drug paraphernalia. The law does not protect the person from arrest for any other cause, including outstanding warrants.

Public Act 12-159: An Act Concerning Treatment For A Drug Overdose

This law allows medical professionals who are allowed to prescribe medications to prescribe naloxone to any person. The prescriber is protected from civil liability and criminal prosecution with PA 12-159, but the person administering the naloxone was not protected until PA 14-61.

Public Act 14-61: An Act Providing Immunity To A Person Who Administers An Opioid Antagonist To Another Person Experiencing An Opioid-Related Drug Overdose

With this law, the person administering naloxone to someone who overdoses is protected from civil liability and criminal prosecution.

Public Act 15-198: An Act Concerning Substance Abuse and Opioid Overdose Prevention

CT pharmacists who successfully complete training can become certified to prescribe and dispense naloxone to customers who request it. The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is responsible for this program and maintains a list of certified pharmacists. To see where there is a certified pharmacist near you, click one of the links below:

This same legislation also requires prescribers to check the CT Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS) if they want to prescribe more than a 72-hour supply of a controlled substance (including opioids). The CPMRS is a database of all controlled substances dispensed in CT. Pharmacy/medical professionals with access use the CPMRS to check what prescribed controlled substances their patients may already be getting. To learn more about the CPMRS, click the link:

Public Act 16-43: An Act Concerning Opioids And Access To Overdose Reversal Drugs

This law set a 7-day limit on opioid prescribing, but left room for exceptions which must be documented in the patient’s medical record by the prescriber.

Public Act 17-131: An Act Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion And Abuse

This 2017 law covered a number of topics, but most significantly, it further lowered the limit on opioid prescribing from 7 to 5 days for minors. As with PA 16-43, prescribers can prescribe opioids for more than 5 days for minors as long as they document as required in the patient’s medical record. Another feature of this legislation is that the prescriber must explain to the patient the reason an opioid is being prescribed and risks associated with opioids. Another requirement of PA 17-131 is electronic transmission of controlled substance prescriptions to pharmacies.

Public Act 18-166: An Act Concerning the Prevention and Treatment Of Opioid Dependency And Opioid Overdoses In The State

This law allows agreements between prescribers and organizations which permit organizations to train and/or distribute naloxone.

Public Act 19-191: An Act Addressing Opioid Abuse

This 2019 law has a number of interesting requirements, including:

• Substance use disorder treatment programs must provide training and naloxone/prescription for naloxone to their clients and training for the client’s friends and family if they wish
• Colleges/universities must have policies on naloxone that are posted on their websites
• People can’t be denied life insurance for receiving a prescription for naloxone
• Person’s prescribedopioids for pain for 12 weeks or more must have documentation in their medical record by their provider in the form of an agreement or plan that includes risks, the need for urine drug screening, what would cause the prescription to be discontinued, and options for treating pain other than opioids
• Hospitals and EMS will report overdoses to the Department of Public Health(DPH) and DPH will share overdose data with local health departments where overdoses occurred