Indianapolis, In. — A bill sponsored by Republican state senator from Oldenburg, Jean Leising that would help prevent opioid abuse in Indiana passed the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services unanimously.
House Bill 1295 would allow a veterinarian to obtain information about an animal’s owner from INSPECT, Indiana’s prescription monitoring system, before prescribing an opioid for the animal. The bill would also limit the initial opioid prescription a veterinarian could prescribe to an animal to a seven-day supply.
“In some cases, animal owners suffering from addiction are using their sick or injured pets to ‘doctor shop’ in order to obtain opioids,” Leising said. “If passed, this bill would help ensure these medications are being used properly and not feeding the drug abuse epidemic facing Indiana.”
HB 1295 will now move to the full Senate for further consideration.
