FDA Asks, Gets Answers on Reducing Opioid Epidemic

The prevalence and consequences of opioid use disorder can be reduced without preventing patients with pain from receiving necessary opioid analgesics, according to a consensus report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine requested by the FDA.

The report, issued July 13, distinguishes its findings and recommendations from previous assessments and interventions by noting that most measures have focused on curtailing access—with marginal success—while failing to address the requirement of opioids for pain control.

“It should be emphasized, however, that none of these studies investigate the impact of reduced access on the well-being of individuals suffering from pain whose access to opioids was curtailed,” the report stated in a summary of strategies for restricting supply.