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Energy and Commerce Committee

Combating the Opioid Crisis

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Examining the Growing Problems of Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse

04.22.2014

WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at 10 a.m. in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled “Examining the Growing Problems of Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse.”

Subcommittee members will review the growing concerns regarding heroin and prescription opioid abuse and related deaths. Reports indicate that as heroin overdoses increase, prescription drug abuse decreases, and vice versa. Almost half of drug overdose deaths in 2010 were attributed...

Press Release

Health Subcommittee Kicks Off Hearing Series Examining America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis

06.14.2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Kicking off a new hearing series, the Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), today held a hearing on "Examining the Federal Government’s Response to the Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis." Prescription drug abuse has plagued the U.S. for many years and continues to be a growing problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified prescription painkiller abuse as a health epidemic and determined that this is the fastest growing drug problem in the U.S. Over the past decade there has been...

Press Release

Upton and Coburn Issue Statement on FDA Opioid Drug Application Ruling

04.17.2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), Ranking Member on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Food and Drug Administration’s ruling to not approve opioid drug applications reliant upon previous approvals which did not require abuse-deterrent properties:

"We applaud FDA Commissioner Hamburg’s announcement that the FDA will not approve any abbreviated new drug applications that rely upon the approval of original OxyContin which did not have abuse-deterrent properties. With more than...

Press Release

Letter to FDA Commissioner Hamburg on Generic Abuse-Deterrent Formulations of Prescription Opioid Products

03.05.2013

Excerpt: However, despite these positive steps, we continue to be concerned about the lack of a clear statement from FDA regarding the agency's intention to prevent the marketing of non-abuse-deterrent generic versions of innovator products that have been withdrawn from the market and replaced with abuse-deterrent formulations.

To read the letter, click here.

To read FDA's April 16, 2013, response, click here.

Letter

Upton, Coburn Commend FDA’s Draft Guidance As Important First Step to Keep Non-Abuse-Deterrent Prescription Drugs From Hitting Market

01.09.2013

WASHINGTON, DC - Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) commended the Food and Drug Administration for meeting today’s deadline to issue draft guidance on abuse-deterrent prescription drugs. In late December, the leaders had requested the Department of Health and Human Services provide more information on its efforts to address the growing concerns surrounding the imminent release of abuse-deterrent versions of extended-release opioids, such as Oxycontin.

In the December letter to HHS, Upton and Coburn wrote, "During the past month, we...

Press Release

Upton, Coburn Seek More Information on Non-Tamper-Resistant Prescription Drugs Set to Hit Market

12.21.2012

Drugs Like Oxycontin Currently Manufactured with Tamper Resistant Formulas – Law Enforcement, Health Care Officials, and Parents Concerned with the Prospect of Non-Tamper-Resistant Versions Hitting the Market, Making Powerful Prescription Drugs Easier to Crush and Abuse

WASHINGTON, DC – Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) today requested the Department of Health and Human Services provide more information on its efforts to address the growing concerns surrounding the imminent release of non-tamper-resistant versions of extended-release opioids, such as Oxycontin.

The members wrote, "During...

Press Release

Letter to HHS Regarding Non-Tamper-Resistant Prescription Drugs

12.21.2012

Excerpt: During the past month, we have heard from a number of concerned citizens, including parents, law enforcement officials, health care providers, state and local officials, and our colleagues in Congress, about the impending release of the non-tamper-resistant versions of these opioids. According to these concerned citizens, the release of the non-tamper-resistant versions will deal a significant setback to our nation’s ongoing struggle to stop prescription drug abuse.

To read the letter, click here.

To read a related press release, click here.

To read the...

Letter
Combating the Opioid Crisis