S.B. 317 Opioid Terminology Amendments: transcript

Here we go. Right here. Um, yes, Mr. Chair and committee, fellow committee members, I would love to move the first sub if we could it, uh, simply add some coordinating, uh, language.

Okay. Substitute. I will speak. But you stay around. Yes. Don't leave This bill. Um, it's interesting. As I've worked through different opioid policy over the last decade or so, we find ourselves in a whole lot of different codes and a variety of different code spaces. And one of the things that we've noted over time is that some of the terminology and language has changed. Uh, and for example, if you recall hearing about the opiate epidemic, and now you probably more frequently hear about the opioid epidemic. Well, pharmacists will tell you that opiate means a pure plant-based substance like opium, uh, or heroin. And an opioid means either synthetically created or altered substance. When we're working clinically, we actually think of them very much the same. They interact, act in the body in the same way you treat and overdose the same way. They run their same risks, but there are differences in terminology. And so, as time has gone along, and as I worked on a couple few opioid related bills this session, it became clear to us that we should probably clean up some of this language. So as you go through the code, um, changes terms as opiate to opioid, like substance changes, the definition of the term opiate antagonist, which is what Naloxone is to opioid antagonist. And then changes a defined term opiate related drug overdose event to opioid related drug overdose event. It is not as, uh, uh, an earth shattering change, but it is bringing things up to date with the language. And in consulting with some pharmacy and physician colleagues, it's more reflective of, uh, where the language should be. So it is a cleanup and, um, has been a little bit in the making, but I feel good about where it's ended up.

Uh, Senator Bus, I, I admit That we, sorry, I move that we pass this out. Favorably.

I would wa summation. Thank you.

Chair, might I make a motion to put this on

Okay. I would like to make a motion that we place this on the consent calendar, uh, Senate bill three 17. First substitute

Senator Plumb. Thank you Mr. President. This bill is a bit of a cleanup bill Over the last decade or so, as the opioid crisis has evolved and our conversations around it have evolved as well, you may have noticed things like we don't say opiate as much as we say opioid these days. And technically I could ping our pharmacist colleague. Opiate means a pure plant-based substance like opium or heroin. And an opioid means either a synthetically created or altered substance. And so after working on a number of bills over the years, um, the drafters and I decided, let's just clean up the language. So this bill changes the term opiate to opioid, like substance changes the defined terms and opioid opiate antagonist to opiate antagonist. Opioid antagonist. Excuse me. Boy, I'm starting to stumble on my tongue here a little bit, but in, in essence it's a bring us up to date on terminology and make our code be actually reflective of the language. Thank you. Do we have discussion to the bill?

Uh, thank you Mr. President. Under suspension of the rules, I would, um, move that this bill pass out of the Senate.