COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio Senate has approved a bipartisan measure aimed at preventing drug abuse by youth by requiring a guardian’s consent before a minor is prescribed painkillers.
The bill also would limit supplies of painkillers to minors to three days when another adult authorized by a minor’s parent or guardian, such as a grandparent, gives the required consent.
The parent or guardian still would eventually be required to sign the consent form.
The Senate approved the bill unanimously Wednesday. It returns to the House for agreement on minor changes.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Rep. Stephanie Kunze (KOON’-zee), from the Columbus suburb of Hilliard. She says the issue caught her attention when she learned about a girl who was prescribed addictive painkillers without parental consent and later abused the drugs.
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