Daniel's Law Ohio - Daniel's Story

#DanielsLawOhio

Over a year ago I embarked on a mission to pass a law that would change Ohio’s current policy on opioid prescriptions. It has not been an easy process. You see, while I have been tirelessly working for this legislation, I have also been mourning the loss my oldest son, Daniel, who passed away from the disease of addiction. It is Daniel’s memory that keeps me pushing for this necessary change.

The process of creating a bill that will impact the trajectory of this problem has required the help and support of many people. I have spoken to countless experts: doctors, police officers, pharmacists, addiction specialist, trade association executives, and many others. With their input, and the commitment of legislators in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, we have created a bill that has all the necessary pieces to enact lasting change.

As a result, the following changes have recently been incorporated into Daniel’s Law:

Requires Ohio office-based opioid treatment facilities- OBOTS – to offer patients all FDA approved medication-assisted treatments- MATs- the facility is licensed to dispense. The patient would now have a choice in their treatment options, as occurs in other diseases. Reducing the Medical Discrimination of the Disease of Addiction.
Grants authority to all Ohio licensed pharmacists to dispense or administer Naltrexone in pill or injection without a prescription. If the pharmacist can verify the person has been on Naltrexone. Creating a safety net for the patient on Naltrexone MATs

This journey has allowed me to encounter hundreds of families, like my own, who feel the impact of the addiction epidemic every day. It has encompassed all races, ages, and socio-economic groups. It is a universal problem which must be addressed through a comprehensive approach which includes the doctors who write the prescriptions, the pharmacists who fill them, the addiction specialists who provide treatment, and the manufacturers that make and promote these products.

I plan to continue to push for the changes in Daniel’s Law. My family is just one of the thousands who have lost a loved one and the thousands more who continue to fight for the lives of their families. Please share our effort with anyone you think would be interested in joining our team. I have committed to working on Daniel’s law to make the world a better place, not just to honor the memory of my son Daniel, but to change the future for Daniel’s children and the thousands of other people in our community who strive on with their fight and for the families who have tragically lost their personal struggle. Daniel’s law is hope. It is about our families and our future as a community. I invite you to share this newsletter with other families so they know they are not alone, and that the world can change for the better. All of us have a role to play in this crisis, which can no longer be ignored. Thank you for your continuing support of Daniel’s Law.

Sincerely,
Scott Weidle