Lawmakers are meeting again this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in an effort to figure out how to tackle the state’s opioid crisis. So far, the drug task force has covered topics such as stricter penalties for fentanyl possession and increasing funds for the state’s prescription drug monitoring program.
This week lawmakers are expected to look into whether to fund a statewide drug court program, which would mean supporting the state's six existing courts and future courts.
The 26-member task force will also take up a bill that would increase the availability of the overdose reversal drug Narcan. If passed the measure would allow pharmacists to dispense Narcan to anyone with or without a prescription.
The issue of how to ramp up drug prevention in schools will also be on this week’s agenda. By Friday the task force will have met for a total of seven times.