The DEA announced on Friday that it would advance tighter controls on hydrocodone combination prescription painkillers to make them more difficult to prescribe and attain.
Rep. Vern Buchanam (R-Fla.) recently called on DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart to sign off on the rulemaking process to reclassify hydrocodone prescription drugs from schedule III drugs to schedule II drugs.
“Too many of our loved ones are dying every day from prescription drug overdoses and are abusing hydrocodone painkillers for non-medical purposes,” Buchanan said. “(Friday’s) announcement means we are one step closer to curbing the abuse of the deadly narcotics wreaking havoc on countless families and communities across our nation.”
The DEA’s announcement signals the beginning of a 60-day public comment period. The DEA will review the public comments ahead of notice of the rescheduling of hydrocodone combination drugs being published.
The DEA’s decision to advance the rescheduling mirrors the Safe Prescribing Act that was introduced by Buchanan last year. More than 50 members of Congress cosponsored the measure.
Hydrocodone combination drugs like Vicodin and Lortab are widely available with a doctor’s prescription and more than 131 million prescriptions of Vicodin were filled in 2010 alone.
Rescheduling hydrocodone painkillers would result in stiffer penalties for fraud and diversion.