F.D.A. Urging a Tighter Rein on Painkillers

1) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/business/fda-seeks-tighter-control-on-prescriptions-for-class-of-painkillers.html?hp


2) Category of Problem/Issue identified in article: Health/ Drug regulation


3) Level of problem/issue: National


4) What is the problem/issue that individuals/families face? Changing the tight rein on pain killers would reduce the number of refills patients could get before going back to see their doctor. Patients would also be required to take a prescription to a pharmacy, rather than have a doctor call it in.


5) Why this is important to individuals/families, or how does this affect individuals/families? Prescription drugs account for about three-quarters of all drug overdose deaths in the United States, with the number of deaths from narcotic painkillers, or opioids, quadrupling since 1999. By classifying it as a drug that would require a prescription present, rather than just a call in from the doctor, it gives a better track record to pharmacists, and helps control the amount of the legal prescription narcotics are being distributed, which could help lower the death rates of people who overdose on these medications.


6) What are your views on the issue/policy? I think that the F.D.A. pushing for a tighter rein on highly abused pain killers by 2014 is a good idea. According to the article Drugs containing hydrocodone represent a huge share about 70 percent of all opioid prescriptions, and the looser rules governing them, some experts say, have contributed to their abuse. If these highly addictive drugs didn't have such loose rules, in terms of refilling the prescription without an actual prescription present, they would obviously be distributed less, and would only be distributed to people with legitimate prescriptions. With more than half of the United States deaths being a result of prescription pain medication, it's safe to say that there needs to be some higher form of regulation. The new regulations would reduce by half, to 90 days, the supply of the drug a patient could obtain without a new prescription. Currently, a patient can refill a prescription for such drugs five times over a six-month period before needing a new prescription. Federal data suggest that most patients take such medications for only 14 days, creating the potential for excess pills to be sold or to be taken out of medicine cabinets by people who don't necessarily know the effects of the drug if abused. The regulation would not put people out who need the drug for medical reasons, it would simple regulate the amount being given and require a physical prescription. All in all, I think it is a good idea.