TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida House wants to fight opioid addiction by placing new restrictions on how doctors prescribe painkillers.

The House passed a bill 93-22 Thursday that would in part limit the first prescription for opioids to a five-day supply.

It would also force pharmacies to report the dispensing of a controlled substance to a state database by the end of the next business day, instead of the current seven-day deadline.

Bill proponents said that about half the people who seek treatment for opioid addiction began taking them after receiving a legitimate prescription.

Opponents included two state representatives who are doctors. They said the bill is overregulating the relationship doctors have with their patients.

A similar bill in the Senate has three more committee stops.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox