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Opioid Manufacturers Face Significant Reduction in 2019 Quotas
Washington – The Justice Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have proposed a reduction for controlled substances that may be manufactured in the U.S. next year. The proposal decreases manufacturing quotas for the six frequently misused opioids for 2019 by an average ten percent as compared to the 2018 amount, consistent with President Trump’s “Safe Prescribing Plan” that seeks to “cut nationwide opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years.”
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) marks the third straight year of proposed reductions, which help reduce the amount of drugs potentially diverted for trafficking and used to facilitate addiction. The proposed reduction will be sent to state attorneys general offices, as part of a final rule amending its regulations to improve the agency’s ability to consider the likelihood of drug diversion when setting annual opioid production limits.
DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon stated, “We’ve lost too many lives to the opioid epidemic and families and communities suffer tragic consequences every day. This significant drop in prescriptions by doctors and DEA’s production quota adjustment will continue to reduce the amount of drugs available for illicit diversion and abuse while ensuring that patients will continue to have access to proper medicine.”
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said, “The opioid epidemic that we are facing today is the worst drug crisis in American history. President Trump has set the ambitious goal of reducing opioid prescription rates by one-third in three years. We embrace that goal and are resolutely committed to reaching it.”
The DEA has proposed to reduce more commonly prescribed schedule II opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, morphine, and fentanyl. These revised limits will encourage vigilance on the part of opioid manufacturers, help DEA respond to the changing drug threat environment, and protect the American people from potential addictive drugs while ensuring that the country has enough opioids for legitimate medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs.
The DEA allocates individual manufacturing and procurement quotas to those manufacturers that apply for them, and may revise a company’s quota at any time during the year if change is warranted due to increased or decreased sales or other factors.
U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen stated, “This proposed manufacturing reduction is a critical, common-sense measure that will undoubtedly result in fewer overdoses and less unlawful distribution of these dangerous substances. As this bold action indicates, Attorney General Sessions and the DEA are committed to reversing the tide of the opioid epidemic.”
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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