Georgia’s opioid epidemic is claiming lives. And lawmakers trying to grapple with it are clashing.
One proposal that just drew controversy and the narrowest of votes this week would create a new crime for doctors. Doctors in the Legislature say that's not needed.
» IN-DEPTH: Georgia’s opioid crisis
» EXCLUSIVE: Heroin's trail of death
Senate Bill 81, aimed at pill mills and drug-seeking patients, would make it a crime for a doctor to deliberately ignore information on whether his patient was getting too many opiate prescriptions.
» GUIDE: AJC Georgia Legislative Navigator
Doctors said such doctors should be handled first by the medical board, not police.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will again have Georgia’s largest team covering the Legislature. Get complete daily coverage during the legislative session at myAJC.com/georgialegislature.
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