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Rhode Island is first in the country to develop standards of care.  Legislation was passed after the deaths of the sons of 2 prominent families.

The standards were developed by the task force with input from hospitals and emergency departments around Rhode Island.

The minimum “Level 3” standards require hospital emergency rooms to do the following:

• dispense the opioid antidote naloxone to all patients at risk
• educate all patients who are prescribed opioids on safe storage and disposal
• provide comprehensive discharge planning to people who overdose, in accordance with the Perry-Goldner Act.
• screen all patients for substance-use disorder
• report all overdoses within 48 hours to state Department of Health
• offer patients peer recovery support services

Providence Journal Mar 8, 2017

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