Massachusetts

Massachusetts House to debate Gov. Baker's opioid bill

FILE - This Aug. 15, 2017, file photo shows an arrangement of pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen, also known as Percocet, in New York. Health data firm IQVIA's Institute for Human Data Science released a report Thursday, April 19, 2018, showing an 8.9 percent average drop nationwide in the number of prescriptions for opioids filled in 2017 by retail and mail-order pharmacies, which fill the bulk of prescriptions. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

BOSTON — The Massachusetts House is preparing to debate Republican Gov. Charlie Baker's opioid legislation, minus one key element.

Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo says the House could take up the bill as early as this week. The legislation is aimed at helping curb the state's opioid overdose crisis.

DeLeo said the House version of the bill won't include a provision allowing medical professionals to order a three-day involuntary hold for those whose substance use disorder is likely to result in serious harm.

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Baker also proposed a 72-hour involuntary hold in 2015, but lawmakers nixed the idea.

Massachusetts reported 2,016 confirmed or estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2017. The total was 133 less than in 2016.

DeLeo said many other of Baker's other proposals will be included in the House bill.

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