DEA proposes further limiting opioid production

Every year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sets a specific quota regarding the number of opioid pills that drugmakers can produce in the United States. This quota is based on data collected from both the FDA and drugmakers. However, the DEA recently proposed a rule that would prevent the overproduction of opioids. Doing so would limit the excess quantities available for illegal use and distribution.  

According to the proposed rule, the DEA would reduce production quotas based on increasing rates of opioid abuse and overdoses. The rule would also attempt to standardize the practice of “use-specific” quotas, which allow for adjusted quotas based on individual circumstances.

This proposed rule comes after the release of a report that the DEA allowed drugmakers to increase production of oxycodone by 400% between 2002 and 2013.

Source: Becker’s Hospital Review