Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says legislators should “explore” passing a law that would shield drug users from prosecution if they seek help for someone who’s overdosing. Three dozen states have enacted some form of a so-called “Good Samaritan” law. “This law immunizes other drug users from criminal prosecution if they call 911 when an overdose is occurring,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds hosted a forum on the opioid crisis, Thursday. She says she wants to see more doctors use the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, but she’s not yet calling for a law that would REQUIRE participation.  “We’ll work with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy and stakeholders to help improve participation in the program and identity ways to automatically notify prescribers and pharmacies when patients are exceeding reasonable doses,” Reynolds says.

Just 43 percent of the Iowans authorized to write prescriptions for opioids and other medications use the program today. The nine-year-old state system that monitors prescriptions and sends alerts about potential abuses is getting an upgrade in the next few months. “Modernizing the way that we use technology is critical to combatting this deadly epidemic,” Reynolds says.

Reynolds says state officials will encourage doctors to follow prescribing guidelines for opioid pain medications, but the governor opposes a new law that would limit how many pills doctors can prescribe at one time. “Especially when you’re looking at a long-term diagnosis, cancer treatment, rural Iowa access issues,” Reynolds says.

The governor expects use of the statewide prescription monitoring system will grow after the technology is upgraded. Reynolds has declared this Opioid Awareness Week.

Reynolds has talked publicly about her own battle with an addiction to alcohol. Her 2018 reelection campaign has released a video in which the governor credits her family for supporting her as she chose sobriety.

(Radio Iowa)

Iowa’s attorney general for the past year has been working with the attorney general of Illinois to investigate Purdue Pharma — the company that has marketed OxyContin. OxyContin is one of the pain medications at the center of the country’s opioid epidemic. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says attorneys general from all 50 states are involved, in one way or another, in pursuing legal action against responsible parties in the pharmaceutical industry. “There’s been a series of meetings recently with the industry in Chicago,” Miller says.

Federal prosecutors announced a criminal investigation of the Purdue Pharma company this week. Ten states have already filed lawsuits against drug makers. On Thursday, Miller — who is a Democrat — joined Iowa’s Republican governor at a forum to examine the extent of the opioid epidemic in Iowa and what state policies could be changed to address it. “I’m a lawyer. I love math and statistics and complicated situations and solutions, but here it’s just so simple,” Miller says, “for me, anyway.”

Miller says opioids should be the pain remedy of “last resort.” He blasts pharmaceutical companies for downplaying the “addictive nature” of opioids. “We should only use opioids in very limited circumstances where nothing else works,” Miller says. “We should use them with a lot of caution and respect and concern about addiction.”

The latest federal statistics indicate 190 Americans die each DAY from an opioid overdose. “A friend of mine recently…broke some ribs, which is a painful injury…and she took herself off opioids after 20 days,” Miller says. “Her doctor wanted to give her a prescription for 30 days. I think there is growing evidence that in the 14-21 days of use of opioids, in a regular prescription, is a real danger point for many people in addiction. But 30 days! What planet has that doctor been living in?”

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against drug makers and marketers, accusing companies of downplaying the risks of addiction to and overdoses from pain medications. In 2007, Purdue Pharma and three of its executives pleaded guilty to misbranding OxyContin and paid 630-million in penalties. Earlier this week, a spokesman for the company said Purdue Pharma is “commuted to being part of the solution to our nation’s opioid crisis.”

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 10/27) The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that a District Court has revoked the pre-trial release (PTR) of a man charged with three counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, and that man is on the run. The order for 35-year old Ben Reece, of New Market, was revoked for violation of terms of his release. On April 4th, 2017, Reece was released on a $25,000 cash bond. His last known address was a trailer park just outside of Shenandoah behind the old Highway 59 motel. He was last seen there at around 12:30-p.m., Thursday. Authorities believe Reece got a tip that a warrant had been issued for his arrest, and cut off his tracking ankle bracelet just before Noon Thursday.

Reece may be operating a gray 2010 Mercury Mariner (Iowa License Plate ENL 844) or a white 2006 GMC Sierra (Iowa License Plate ENL 843) and was last seen in Shenandoah near the 59er Campground at approximately 12:30-p.m., Thursday. Reece is described as a white male, 6-feet tall, weighing about 225-pounds. He has thin blonde hair. If you see him, call 911 immediately or the Shenandoah Police Department at 712-246-3512. Citizens are advised NOT to attempt to apprehend any individuals on their own.

Ben Reece (Photo1)

Ben Reece (Photo2)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:40 p.m. CDT

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says two cousins kidnapped, suffocated and executed a gender-fluid Iowa teenager whom they pursed for sex after a chance encounter at a grocery store. Prosecutor Christopher Perras detailed the 2016 death of 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson in opening statements Thursday at the trial of Jorge Sanders-Galvez. Perras said Sanders-Galvez and his cousin left behind a “trail of evidence” that would connect them to the crime. Sanders-Galvez’s attorney declined to make an opening statement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says he will seek a 10th term next year. The Des Moines Register reports 73-year-old Miller, a Democrat, made the announcement Thursday. Miller was initially elected to the statewide office in 1978. Except for a four-year stretch in the early 1990s after he made an unsuccessful run for governor, Miller has been the state’s top prosecutor since, making him the longest serving state attorney general in the country.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The head of Iowa’s veterans department has announced she’s retiring, just months after she took on the job. Jodi Tymeson announced Thursday in a press release that her last day as executive director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will be Nov. 17. Tymeson was named executive director in April and started May 1. The press release offers no additional information about her short tenure and includes a link for others to apply for the job.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has outlined priorities for combating opioid abuse in the state, but she stopped short of offering specifics on future legislation or additional state spending. Reynolds said Thursday she will prioritize existing initiatives in Iowa that aim to prevent and treat opioid abuse. Reynolds’ staff later released a list of priorities, which included increasing participation in a prescription monitoring program and expanding education on decreasing opioid prescribing.