Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

Senate approves bill seeking more information on overdose deaths to guide prevention efforts

 

STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller to give the Department of Health access to more information about overdose deaths in Rhode Island to better identify opportunities to prevent them.

The legislation (2023-S 0721A), which was requested by the Department of Health, builds on a law enacted in 2018 that created a review process within the State Medical Examiners Office for deaths by overdose for the purpose of examining emerging trends in overdose, identifying potential demographic, geographic, and structural points for prevention and other factors. Under that law, a multidisciplinary team reviews data about overdose deaths to search for patterns and trends so the Department of Health can better target its prevention efforts.

Senator Miller’s bill would allow the team to speak to the families of the deceased, if the families are willing, to gather more information about the circumstances leading up to the overdose. Any information families provide to the team would, by law, remain confidential and not be subject to subpoena, discovery or introduction into evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding, just as other information collected by the team is.

“This bill is aimed at preventing overdose deaths and loosening the grip of this terrible epidemic on Rhode Island. While of course this would be voluntary and no family would be required to provide any information if they would prefer not to, those who wish to do so could help identify ways to save Rhode Islanders’ lives and prevent other families from suffering as they have,” said Chairman Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence).

The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives, which has passed companion legislation (2023-H 5682A) sponsored by Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls).

 

 

President Trump says the tariffs imposed on other countries are having the desired effect, and he's now open to negotiations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said his initial tariff plan is over, and he's watching it settle in. He said every country has called, asking to cut a trade deal with the U.S. to avoid the tariffs.        Stocks are closing sharply lower one day after President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. The S&P 500 had its worse day since 2020 as the White House announced a baseline tariff rate of ten-percent against most countries yesterday that will go into effect on Saturday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 16-79 to 40-545. The S&P 500 lost 274 points to 53-96. The Nasdaq lost 10-50 points to 16-550.        A multi-day severe weather event is unfolding for more than 55-million people. It comes after at least seven people were killed in the South Central U.S. after storms that included several tornadoes hit the region yesterday. Tonight, there is still a tornado threat for the same areas, but forecasters warn there could also be potentially catastrophic flooding in the Mid-South and Midwest.        The Federal Aviation Administration is offering more support to air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport. The Critical Incident Stress Management team will be meeting with airport personnel sometime early this month. The FAA is also reviewing the arrival rate at the airport and will conduct regular wellness checks.        The Senate has confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The television personality was confirmed on a party-line vote of 53-45. Oz now assumes a role that provides health insurance to roughly 160 million Americans.        Steven Spielberg and George Lucas top the latest Forbes list of celebrity billionaires. The latest Forbes ranking of the world's wealthiest people includes 18 celebrities, with film director Steven Spielberg topping the list at five-point-three-billion dollars. Star Wars creator George Lucas is in second place with a net worth of five-point-one-billion dollars.       

Old News Archives