Gottlieb Outlines Opioid Fight

On May 23, 2017, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, posted a blog post detailing his plans to fight the opioid addiction crisis, including a new steering committee. The commissioner also asked his staff for their input on how to combat this important health issue.

One of the first parts of the agency’s plan is the creation of the Opioid Policy Steering Committee, which will consist of FDA senior leaders. The committee is charged with reviewing the need for education for healthcare professions, the possible tailoring of the number of dosages, and the agency’s framework for assessing opioid abuse.

“Working together, we need to do all we can to get ahead of this crisis. That’s why we’ll also be soliciting public input, through various forums, on what additional steps FDA should consider. I look forward to working closely with my FDA colleagues as we quickly move forward, capitalizing on good work that has already been done, and expanding those efforts in novel directions. I will keep you updated on our work as we continue to confront this epidemic,” Gottlieb stated in the blog post.