The Massachusetts House is expected to pass a bill Wednesday to address the state’s opioid addiction crisis.
The house bill would limit initial painkiller prescriptions to a seven-day supply, and require an in-depth medical evaluation of anyone who shows up in a hospital emergency because of a drug overdose.
Several provisions don’t go as far as legislation proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker.
State Rep. Aaron Vega of Holyoke said the house bill will do some good, but he said societal attitudes about drugs need to change.
"There was a time when it was unheard of that someone would try heroin, but now it seems to be the next thing after someone has a beer," said Vega.
Massachusetts recorded 1,089 opioid-related deaths last year, a 63 percent increase over 2012.
