TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - With Florida facing an opioid epidemic, a measure aimed at preventing patients from getting addicted to prescription painkillers and then turning to street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl will also take effect on July 1.
The bill, in part, will place limits on prescriptions that doctors can write for treatment of acute pain.
Doctors in many cases would be limited to writing prescriptions for three-day supplies.
The bill also requires physicians to check with a statewide database before prescribing or dispensing controlled substances.
"I see this as one part of it. There are lots of parts to this epidemic, but this is a critical part in helping get to the bottom of it," said John Wilson, CEO of DISC Village.
Cancer patients, people who are terminally ill, and those who suffer from major trauma would be exempt from the prescribing limits.
Other laws that are going into effect on July 1 is the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act which requires law enforcement officers to be stationed in every school in the state.
As well as a law related to written threats to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism on social media is now a felony of the second degree.
Also, marriage licenses may not be issued to a person under the age of 18 and a New Hope Scholarship Program, where if your child gets bullied you can get a voucher to send them to a private school.
