COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOSPITALS AND 
HUMAN SERVICES 
05/08/2025-REPORTED OUT TO THE FLOOR 
04/22/2025-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY 
BILL NO. 
36-0021 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
February 27, 2025 
 
 
 
An Act amending title 19 Virgin Islands Code, part III, chapter 29, subchapter I relating to 
opioids and requiring that a practitioner discuss certain information with a patient when 
prescribing opioids 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: Senator Marvin A. Blyden 
Co-sponsors: Ray Fonseca, Kurt A. Vialet and Avery L. Lewis 
 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 19 of the Virgin Islands Code, part III, chapter 29, subchapter I, is 
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amended by adding section 603a as follows: 
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Ҥ603a.  Patient Opioid Notification 
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(a) 
Prior to issuing the initial prescription of a Schedule II controlled substance or any 
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other opioid pain reliever that is a prescription drug in a course of treatment for acute or chronic 
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pain and again prior to issuing the third prescription in a course of treatment, a practitioner 
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shall discuss with the patient, or the patient's parent or guardian if the patient is under 18 years 
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of age and is not an emancipated minor, the following information about the drugs being 
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prescribed: 
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(1) 
the reasons why the prescription is necessary; 
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(2) 
alternative treatments that may be available; and 
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2 
 
(3) 
the risks associated with the use of the drugs being prescribed, specifically 
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that opioids are highly addictive, even when taken as prescribed; that there is a risk of 
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developing a physical or psychological dependence on the controlled substance; and that 
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taking more opioids than prescribed, or mixing alcohol, benzodiazepines and other 
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central nervous system depressants, can result in fatal respiratory depression. 
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(b) 
The practitioner shall include a note in the patient's medical record that the 
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practitioner has discussed with the patient or the patient's parent or guardian, as applicable, the 
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risks of developing a physical or psychological dependence on the controlled substance and 
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alternative treatments that may be available. 
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(c) 
Subsection (a) does not apply to a prescription for a patient who is currently in 
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active treatment for cancer, receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice or palliative care, 
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is a resident of a long-term care facility, or is in the treatment of substance abuse or opioid 
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dependence.” 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill amends title 19 Virgin Islands Code, part III, chapter 29, subchapter I by 
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requiring practitioners, when prescribing a Schedule II controlled substance or any other opioid 
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pain reliever which is a prescription drug in the course of treatment for acute or chronic pain, 
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to discuss the risks associated with the use of the drug.  A practitioner is not required to discuss 
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the risks associated with the use of these medications when prescribing to a patient in active 
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treatment for cancer, receiving hospice care from a licensed hospice or palliative care, is a 
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resident of a long-term care facility, or is in the treatment of substance abuse or opioid 
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dependence. 
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BR25-0219/February 3, 2025/GC 
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