The letters, addressed to the chairs and ranking members of the appropriations committees in both bodies, highlight the work of CEPOP, identify the current state of the opioid crisis ravaging the country, and advocated for funding for several programs related to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, local and regional grants and other relevant policy considerations.
The letter from CEPOP maintains the draft report could significantly impede access to abuse deterrent formulations of opioids and recommends suspension of the project or further additional assessments.
During a time where overdoses and deaths due to prescription opioids are at the highest levels in recorded history (1), significant efforts must be made to combat the opioid and prescription drug abuse epidemic that is affecting communities across the country. The statistics surrounding the epidemic are startling, exacerbating the need for appropriate methods in which to safely use and dispose of excess, legally-obtained opioid medications.
The first of the "CEPOP Salutes" webinar recordings is now available. This initial webinar highlights the work of hospital networks and their efforts to reduce opioid-related adverse events. The mid-August webinar ran for a bit over an hour and included a significant question and answer period from webinar participants. We look forward to providing additional webinars on related efforts in the coming months.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Office of Pain Policy (part of the National Institutes of Health) is soliciting public comment on the draft National Pain Strategy. View the Draft Document
This April 2015 FDA report is intended "to assist sponsors who wish to develop opioid drug products with potentially abuse-deterrent properties." It notes that "Prescription opioid products are an important component of modern pain management. However, abuse and misuse of these products have created a serious and growing public health problem. One potentially important step towards the [...]