Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation to combat the state's opioid epidemic.
Scott signed the bill in Bradenton Monday.
Manatee County saw the highest amount of deaths in the state from fentanyl analogs in 2015. Fentanyl analogs are usually prescribed for veterinary use and are often 5,000 times more lethal than heroin.
BRADENTON, Fla. — Read: Orange County to hand out Narcan in Holden Heights
The opioids crisis, which claims the lives of at least 16 Sunshine State residents per day, was a top priority of the Republican governor and the Legislature.
Read: What is Narcan? 12 things to know about the drug
The bill imposes new restrictions on prescriptions, calls for $53.5 million in state and federal grant funding for treatment programs and updates the state's prescription database.
Read: Opioids kill more Americans than guns, breast cancer, CDC says
Most initial prescriptions would have a limit of three days, but doctors could prescribe up to seven days for acute pain exceptions.
Most initial prescriptions would have a limit of three days, but doctors could prescribe up to seven days for acute pain exceptions.
The bill is meant to help prevent addicts from what’s known as “doctor shopping,” or visiting multiple pharmacies to get drugs.
A prescription drug monitoring program requires doctors check a statewide database before prescribing or dispensing controlled substances.
Some patients, such as those who are terminally ill, or are suffering from cancer or major trauma, are exempt from the new rules.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
