Drug Reclassifications Aimed at Reducing Drug Abuse

Last month the Obama administration reclassified hydrocodone combination drugs into a category for medical substances with the highest potential for harm. This new change will be effective beginning in October.

The reclassification will mean that hydrocodone combination drugs such as Vicodin will only be administered in ninety-day prescriptions and users will need to have a paper prescription to take to the pharmacy, instead of the doctor calling it in over the phone (Ackerman, 2014).

According to the DEA Administrator Michele Leonheart, “Almost seven million Americans abuse controlled-substance prescription medications, including opioid painkillers, resulting in more deaths from prescription drug overdoses than auto accidents” (Ackerman, 2014). Leonheart stated that the Obama administration’s reclassification actions reflect the recognition of these dangerous substances.

References

Ackerman, M. (2014). White House clamps down on narcotic drug prescriptions. The Fix. Retrieved from http://www.thefix.com/content/white-house-clamps-down-narcotic-drug-prescriptions