Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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 goal of creating safer opioid analgesics has been the development of opioids that are formulated to deter abuse. FDA considers the development of these products a high public health priority.”