Establishes certain protocols for prescribing and dispensing benzodiazepine.

A1593

ASSEMBLY, No. 1593

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman SEAN T. KEAN

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes certain protocols for prescribing and
dispensing benzodiazepine.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning benzodiazepines and supplementing Title 24
of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� As used in this act:

���� �Benzodiazepine� means any
substance or drug, including alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, and
temazepam, which: contains a benzene ring fused to a seven member diazepine
ring; results in the depression of the central nervous system; and is primarily
intended to treat insomnia, convulsions, anxiety, muscle relaxation, and for
pre-operation treatment.

���� �Long-term care facility�
means a nursing home, assisted living residence, comprehensive personal care
home, residential health care facility, or dementia care home licensed pursuant
to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.).

���� �Non-benzodiazepine hypnotic�
means any substance or drug which produces effects similar to benzodiazepine
and is primarily intended to treat insomnia, including zaleplon, zopiclone, and
zolpidem.

���� �Pharmacist" means an
individual currently licensed by this State to engage in the practice of
pharmacy who does not dispense medication to patients in long-term care
facilities.

���� "Practitioner" means
an individual currently licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized by this
State to prescribe drugs in the course of professional practice who does not
treat patients in long-term care facilities.

���� 2.��� The Department of Health
shall:

���� (a) establish protocols for
practitioners to follow including a slow, patient controlled tapering and
encouraging the use of the Ashton manual to safely discontinue patients� use of
benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines hypnotics to minimize patients� symptoms
of withdrawal, and permitting patients with long-term use of benzodiazepines,
who are dependent on the medication, to remain on the medication or to safely
taper at a rate that is determined by the patient�s symptoms;

���� (b) produce and distribute in
written or electronic form to pharmacies and practitioners to distribute to
patients, a cautionary pamphlet for consumers regarding benzodiazepines and
non-benzodiazepine hypnotics on:

���� (1) misuse and abuse by adults
and children;

���� (2) risk of dependency and
addiction;

���� (3) proper storage and
disposal; and

���� (4) addiction support and
treatment resources;

���� (c) prohibit a practitioner or
pharmacist from prescribing or dispensing a benzodiazepine or a
non-benzodiazepine hypnotic unless pharmacist and practitioner has furnished
the patient the pamphlet provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, and has
collected the patient�s signed consent form, as determined by the Department of
Health;

���� (d) require bold lettering
labels on benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine hypnotic prescriptions to alert
patients to the risk of dependence, addiction, or both; and

���� (e) prohibit one
benzodiazepine or one non-benzodiazepine hypnotic prescription to exceed four
weeks unless there is a proven medical need, medical exception, or both.

���� 3.��� The Department of Health
shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act,"
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules or regulations necessary to
effectuate the provisions of this act.

���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect 180 days after the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes
protocols for prescribing and dispensing benzodiazepine.

���� Under the bill, the Department
of Health (department) is to: establish protocols for practitioners to follow
including a slow, patient controlled tapering and encouraging the use of the
Ashton manual to safely discontinue patients� use of benzodiazepines and
non-benzodiazepines hypnotics to minimize patients� symptoms of withdrawal, and
permitting patients with long-term use of benzodiazepines, who are dependent on
the medication, to remain on the medication or to safely taper at a rate that
is determined by the patient�s symptoms; produce and distribute in written or
electronic form to pharmacies and practitioners to distribute to patients, a
cautionary pamphlet for consumers regarding benzodiazepines and
non-benzodiazepine hypnotics on: (1) misuse and abuse by adults and children;
(2) risk of dependency and addiction; (3) proper storage and disposal; and (4)
addiction support and treatment resources.� The department is to prohibit one
benzodiazepine or one non-benzodiazepine hypnotic prescription to exceed four
weeks unless there is a proven medical need, medical exception, or both.� The
department is to prohibit a practitioner or pharmacist from prescribing or
dispensing a benzodiazepine or a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic unless pharmacist
and practitioner furnishes the patient with the pamphlet provided for in this
bill and collects the patient�s signed consent form.� Further, the department
is to require bold lettering labels on benzodiazepine or non-benzodiazepine
hypnotic prescriptions to alert patients to the risk of dependence, addiction,
or both.

���� The provisions of this bill do
not apply to pharmacists who dispense medication to patients in long-term care
facilities or practitioners who treat patients in long-term care facilities.