Leising: Bill to help prevent opioid abuse passes Senate

Contact: Lindsey Ross, Senior Press Secretary
Lindsey.Ross@iga.in.gov 
317-232-9498

STATEHOUSE (March 19, 2019) – A bill sponsored by State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) that would help prevent opioid abuse in Indiana today passed the Senate unanimously.

House Enrolled Act 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.”

HEA 1295 will now be considered by Gov. Eric Holcomb.

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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Leising, click here.