CLAAD Responds to Draft Guidance on Abuse-Deterrent Opioids

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael Barnes, Executive Director of the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence (CLAAD) today released the following statements in response to the Obama-Biden Administration's issuance of draft guidance on the evaluation and labeling of abuse-deterrent opioid medications:

    --  The Obama-Biden Administration states that it intends to incentivize the
        development of safer medications, but its actions discredit its words. 
        The Administration's January 1 decision to allow generic,
        non-abuse-deterrent products on the market after abuse-deterrent
        versions of them are available dealt a blow to the fragile market for
        safer medications that could prove to be fatal.

    --  Third-party payors and pharmacists are financially motivated to dispense
        cheaper, generic medications.  Enhanced labeling for abuse-deterrent
        medications will not be effective at encouraging the dispensing of these
        newer, safer products.  Only a market transition in which branded and
        generic medications alike are abuse-deterrent will make a difference in
        the prescription drug abuse epidemic.

    --  The Administration's approach to abuse-deterrent medications reflects
        bureaucratic risk aversion and political indifference at their worst.

    --  The Administration's sloth underscores the need for a legislative
        mandate to force the executive branch to do the right thing and support
        a market transition to safer medications.

About the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence

The non-profit Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence (CLAAD) coordinates a comprehensive national effort to prevent the diversion, misuse, and abuse of prescription medications while ensuring adequate medical care for patients in need. CLAAD enables health professionals, law enforcement, businesses, and government, among many other entities, to share resources and work together to reduce prescription drug abuse, addiction, and overdoses. CLAAD's National Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy has been endorsed by 30 non-profit organizations and may be accessed online at www.claad.org. Follow @claad_coalition.

SOURCE CLAAD