FDA, FTC CONTINUE E-CIGARETTE CRACKDOWN
On May 1, the FDA and FTC sent 13 warning letters to companies that make, distribute or sell e-cigarette liquids that are packaged in "kid-friendly" ways, some with cartoon-like drawings. Read more here.
HHS APPOINTS PAIN TASK FORCE
On May 1, HHS named the 28 members of its new Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, which was established in the 2016 CARA legislation to issue recommendations for managing acute and chronic pain. Read more here.
SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS LEADING CAUSE OF OVERDOSE DEATHS
A new report published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) details that synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, are now the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths. Read more here.
HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE HEARING ON 42 CFR
On May 8, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on 42 CFR Part 2 privacy regulations. Read more here.
HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSION HEARING
On May 8, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing titled: Combating the Opioid Epidemic: Examining Concerns About Distribution and Diversion. Read more here.
HOUSE JUDICIARY HEARING ON OPIOID CRISIS
On May 8, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on “Challenges and Solutions to the Opioid Abuse Crisis.” Read more here.
HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM SEEKS ONDCP COMMENTS
On May 9, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a discussion draft of legislation to re-authorize the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Read more here.
HOUSE OPIOID PACKAGE – ENERGY AND COMMERCE BILLS
On May 9, the House Energy and Commerce Committee considered 26 bills addressing the opioid misuse and overdose epidemic. On May 17 the committee considered another 32 bills. The House is expected to consider an opioid package the week of June 11. Read more here.
HOUSE OPIOID PACKAGE - WAYS AND MEANS BILLS
On May 16, the House Ways and Means Committee held a markup of bills to address the opioid misuse and overdose epidemic. Read more here.
SENATE HEARING ON FY19 HHS BUDGET
On May 10, the Senate Labor HHS Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the FY19 President’s budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services. A major topic discussed was the opioid epidemic. A webcast of the hearing can be found here.
FDA APPROVES FIRST NON-OPIOID TREATMENT FOR OPIOID WITHDRAWAL
On May 16, the FDA approved Lucemyra for up to 14 days of use, although not explicitly to treat opioid use disorder. The drug can help mitigate withdrawal symptoms like stomach cramps, muscle spasm and sleep problems. Read more here.
SENATE LABOR HHS SUBCOMMITTEE EXAMINES NIH BUDGET
On May 17, the Senate Labor HHS Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to review the FY19 budget request for the National Institutes of Health. Opioids was one of the topics discussed. Read more here.
SENATE JUDICIARY APPROVES OPIOID BILLS
On May 17, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved several bills that are expected to be part of the Senate opioid package. Read more here.
SENATE FINANCE LAWMAKERS UNVEIL OPIOID BILLS
On May 23, the Senate Finance Committee introduced several bipartisan measures expected to be part of the chamber's larger package to address the opioid crisis. The full Senate is expected to take up a broad bipartisan opioid package this summer. Read more here.
ONDCP REAUTHORIZATION
On May 23, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved legislation (HR 5925) to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Read more here.
FDA LAUNCHES INNOVATION CHALLENGE TO ADDRESS OPIOID CRISIS
The Food and Drug Administration plans to collaborate with selected companies developing products that could address the opioid crisis, potentially speeding up the review process. Read more here.
PAIN MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE KICKS OFF INAUGURAL MEETING
A new federal pain management task force mandated by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act kicked off its inaugural meeting on May 30. Read more here.
NIH PAIN CONSORTIUM SYMPOSIUM
On May 31, the NIH Pain Consortium convened the 13th Annual NIH Pain Consortium Symposium on Advances in Pain Research. Read more here.