Lawmakers clash on bill for Georgia's opioid epidemic

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.

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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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