BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker is planning to unveil legislation aimed at addressing the state’s opioid abuse epidemic.
An 18-member task force appointed by Baker released a report earlier this year outlining a number of strategies to curtail the surge in overdoses that claimed an estimated 1,250 lives last year.
Gosnold of Cape Cod CEO Ray Tamasi is a member of that panel.
Baker has been particularly critical of what he calls the overprescribing of powerful painkillers that he said can lead to addiction to opioids, including heroin.
Baker has scheduled a Statehouse press conference Thursday morning with Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders to outline details of his bill.
The state Senate recently passed its own wide-ranging bill that includes screening of public school students for potential substance abuse and encourages doctors to consider alternatives to opioids for pain management.
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