COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio House has approved a bipartisan measure aimed at preventing drug abuse by youth by requiring a guardian’s consent before a minor is prescribed a controlled substance.
The bill would require a youth’s parent or guardian to sign a consent form before a health professional issues a non-emergency prescription for a controlled substance.
The bill was co-sponsored by Republican representatives Stephanie Kunze of Hilliard and Nan Baker of Westlake.
“Parents play the most important role in helping to prevent drug addiction—not only through conversations with their children, but through the actions they take to protect their children. This bill is one more way to protect our youth,” Kunze said.
Kunze says the issue came to her attention when she learned about a girl who was prescribed addictive painkillers without parental consent and later abused the drugs.
The House passed the measure Wednesday, and it now goes to the Senate.
Prescribers who ignore the consent requirements could face license suspensions of at least six months and a $20,000 fine.