Phase I of Rx drug law goes into effect

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A new law designed to prevent deaths from prescription drug abuse goes into effect this weekend.

A local father who lost his son to drug addiction thinks iSTOP will save lives - but pharmacists are worried it could spark violence.

Avi Israel has been fighting to make changes to laws regarding prescription drugs for a long time. His fight resulted in iSTOP, which becomes a reality on Saturday.

"You don't want to end up like me," Israel said. you want to have your kids."

Israel's son, Michael, took his own life because of his addiction to prescription pills.

Sen. Tim Kennedy said, "Lives will be saved, there is no question in my mind."

Phase one of iSTOP tightens regulation for hydrocodone. Now when anyone walks into a pharmacy like, they cant get an automatic refill for the prescription narcotic. They need to return to their doctor's office and receive a new prescription."

Dennis Galluzzo, Executive Director of the Pharmacists Association of WNY, said, "There could be a five-day supply given to them over the phone on an emergency basis so people shouldn't have to panic."

There will eventually be a live, online database for prescribers to look at before they write or fill a new prescription to prevent people from being overprescribed.

"So if a patient goes from here to drug store X or drug store Y or goes to another doctor and gets more prescriptions we will be able to track that," Galluzzo explained.

But he's afraid that turning people away could potentially be dangerous.

"We're concerned as pharmacists what's going to happen when that patient becomes irate," Galluzzo stated. "People have gotten killed over this. We try to hold them, a gun fight ensures... it's actually happened."

Change is never easy, but Israel says it will be worth it in the end.

"Personally, it means that another kid could be saved," Israel said.