ASSEMBLY, No. 3292

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JOHN ARMATO

District 2 (Atlantic)

Assemblyman  VINCENT MAZZEO

District 2 (Atlantic)

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Murphy, Assemblymen Danielsen, Benson, Gusciora, Assemblywoman McKnight, Assemblymen Rooney, Chiaravalloti, Assemblywoman Mosquera, Assemblymen Space, Harold J. Wirths and Assemblywoman Pinkin

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires prescription opioid medications include warning sticker advising patients of risk of addiction and overdose.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Act concerning prescription medications and amending P.L.1970, c.226.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 17 of P.L.1970, c.226 (C.24:21-17) is amended to read as follows:

     17.  Form of label to be used by pharmacists; altering or removing label.  Whenever a pharmacist sells or dispenses any controlled dangerous substance on a prescription issued by a practitioner, [he] the pharmacist shall affix to the container in which such drug is sold or dispensed, a label showing [his] the pharmacist’s own name, address, and registry number, or the name, address, and registry number of the pharmacist or pharmacy owner for whom [he] the pharmacist is lawfully acting; the name of the patient or, if the patient is an animal, the name of the owner of the animal and the species of the animal; the name of the practitioner by whom the prescription was issued; the brand name or generic name of the drug dispensed unless the prescriber states otherwise on the prescription, such directions as may be stated on the prescription and such directions as may be required by rules or regulations promulgated by the director.  In addition, whenever a pharmacist dispenses an opioid medication on a prescription issued by a practitioner, the pharmacist shall affix to the container in which such opioid medication is sold or dispensed a warning sticker describing the risks associated with opioid medications.  The director, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall specify by rule or regulation the location on the medication container where the warning sticker shall be affixed and the specific language to be included on the warning sticker, which, at a minimum, shall indicate that the medication in the container is an opioid and that opioid medications carry a risk of addiction and overdose.  Unless otherwise provided by rules or regulations promulgated by the director, the sticker shall be red in color with text printed in a white font large enough to be easily and clearly readable.

     No person shall alter, deface, or remove any label or sticker so affixed as long as any of the original contents remain.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.244, s.15)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires that the container for any prescription opioid medication dispensed in the State is to include a warning sticker describing the risks of opioid medications.  The Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, in consultation with the Department of Health, will specify by rule or regulation the location on the medication container where the warning sticker is to be affixed and the specific language to be included on the warning sticker, which, at a minimum, is to indicate that the medication is an opioid and that opioid medications carry a risk of addiction and overdose.  Unless otherwise provided by rules or regulations promulgated by the director, the sticker is to be red in color with text printed in a white font large enough to be easily and clearly readable.