Contact: Richard Gulla
781-434-7101
rgulla@mms.org
Waltham -- March 9 -- The Massachusetts Medical Society today released the following statement from Dennis M. Dimitri, M.D., Medical Society president, in response to the opioid legislation proposed by the Massachusetts legislature.
“The Massachusetts Medical Society commends the work of the legislature in crafting a bill that offers a number of helpful measures to address a complex problem. The 7-day limit on prescription drugs is particularly noteworthy, as this provision in the bill should reduce the amount of prescription drugs that can be diverted to abuse or misuse, and at the same time allow a reasonable time for prescriptions for those patients who truly need pain relief.
This legislation is another step forward in attacking the problem of opioid abuse. Physicians will continue to work with leaders in state government, public health officials, and health care providers in reducing prescription drug and opioid abuse in the Commonwealth.”
Dennis M. Dimitri, M.D., President, Massachusetts Medical Society
The Massachusetts Medical Society, with some 25,000 physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating for the patients and physicians of Massachusetts. The Society, under the auspices of NEJM Group, publishes the New England Journal of Medicine, a leading global medical journal and web site, and Journal Watch alerts and newsletters covering 13 specialties. The Society is also a leader in continuing medical education providing accredited and certified activities across the globe for physicians and other health care professionals. Founded in 1781, MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country. For more information please visit www.massmed.org, www.nejm.org, or www.jwatch.org.
