A bill addressing opioid abuse by creating new crimes against medical workers and granting certain police investigators easier access to prescription records awaits Governor Roy Cooper’s signature. The Senate quickly approved the measure, known as theHOPE Act, 41-3 Thursday.
The measure also makes it a felony for medical professionals to embezzle or divert pain medicines designated for a patient for their personal use or sale.
House members were divided on one of the bill's provision that would allow an investigator in some cases to get records from the state's controlled substance database without a warrant or court order.
Attorney General Josh Stein backs the HOPE Act. He also worked with legislators in passing an opioid bill last year.
