Bill targeting opioid abuse heads to governor’s desk

BOSTON – Massachusetts will become the first state in the nation to allow partial fills of painkiller prescriptions, patients will be empowered to direct physicians not to prescribe them with potentially addictive synthetic opiates, and screening of middle and high school students for signs of substance abuse and addiction will be routinized statewide under legislation that passed the state Senate and was sent to Gov. Charlie Baker Thursday.

The bill cleared the Senate 37-0, following unanimous House passage on Wednesday, and some lawmakers said they believed it would be the most important bill they'll pass this session. About four people die each day in Massachusetts from drug overdoses, with opioids, as the synthetics are called, playing a big role, lawmakers said.