CLAAD’s policy positions are established through a consensus process, in which at least 80 percent of the participants must represent not-for-profit organizations. This rule of governance ensures that the public interest drives CLAAD’s priorities, as opposed to the interests of individual stakeholders.
FDA Allows Generic Form of Powerful Pain Reliever Opana
May 10, 2013 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that a new version of the powerful pain reliever Opana ER does not thwart drug abuse significantly better than earlier versions that are not abuse-deterrent. The decision means that generic manufacturers can continue to produce generic forms of a more commonly abused version of Opana ER. Full story. CLAAD's executive director, Michael Barnes, issued the following statement in response to the FDA’s decision: "We respect the FDA’s scientific judgment and appreciate its high standards for claims of abuse deterrence. The transition to abuse-deterrent medications will, of course, be gradual, but the introduction of more non-abuse-deterrent opioids to the market moves us backward, not forward. It is time for the FDA to give notice to manufacturers that no more opioids will be approved unless they are designed to thwart abuse.”
Insurer Efforts To Reduce Rx Abuse: Life Savers or Money Savers?
May 8, 2013 - After sitting on the sidelines for years, health insurers are beginning to unveil initiative after initiative under the banner of prescription drug abuse prevention. Some of those policies look genuinely promising. Others look like mislabeled benefit cuts that will likely worsen prescription drug abuse, curtail legitimate usage, or both. Full story.
New Georgia Law Aims To Control Pill Mills
May 2, 2013 - A law signed by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and taking effect July 1 will require pain clinics to be licensed by Georgia’s medical board and owned by physicians. Georgia is the ninth state to require that pain clinics be owned by a physician, according to the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws. Indiana and Alabama are also considering similar pain-clinic legislation. Full story.
FDA Supports Transition to Safer Medications
April 16, 2013 - CLAAD's executive director, Michael Barnes, issued the following statement today in response to the Food and Drug Administration's decision not to allow generic drug makers to bring crushable OxyContin back to the market: "The Food and Drug Administration's decision to keep non-abuse-deterrent, generic OxyContin off the market will help protect patients, families, and communities from the scourge of prescription drug abuse. We thank the FDA for doing the right thing and urge it to make a similarly smart decision to remove crushable, generic Opana from the market." Full story.
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