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Advocates for the Reform of Prescription Opioids, Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA, Hydrocodone, Opioid, OxyContin, Phil Walls, prescription drugs, Workers' Compensation
By Phil Walls, R.Ph., Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer
There is an organization, totally unrelated to Workers’ Compensation, that has decided to take on the opioid epidemic by going straight to the FDA. That organization is the Advocates for the Reform of Prescription Opioids and their message is simple – this country does not need any more new opioids. Especially not with the current and ongoing epidemic of opioid abuse.
They have recently submitted a letter to the FDA, which may be read in its entirety here. This letter was prompted over concerns about the possible approval of the new pure hydrocodone product Zohydro (recently covered in myMatrixx’s newsletter) that is expected to hit the market this year. Since many experts expect Zohydro to potentially be the “next OxyContin” in terms of its potential for misuse, abuse, addiction and accidental deaths, ARPO is requesting that the FDA “just say No”.
CALL TO ACTION: I encourage everyone reading this blog to answer the ARPO’s call for help and write Dr. Margaret Hamburg at the FDA letting her know of our opposition to the continued approval of new opioids (I can name four off the top of my head approved in the last year).
Commissioner Hamburg may be reached at:
Dr. Margaret Hamburg
Commissioner
US Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20993
PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WITH OTHERS: And encourage them to do the same. Together our voices can be heard and can make an impact on our industry.
Thank you for helping us take on stand on the opioid epidemic.