FDA suggests corporate-sponsored monitoring program could curb opioid epidemic

(Healthcare IT News, December 11) As the nation struggles with soaring opioid addiction, the Food and Drug Administration is looking at new ways to cut down on the amount of painkiller prescriptions. 

 At a recent FDA workshop, the agency’s commissioner Scott Gottlieb proposed the creation of a national drug monitoring program that would be corporate-sponsored. As part of the plan, the agency would require drug sponsors to create the program in order to get drug approval. This program will hopefully help doctors identify who may be abusing opioid medication (across state lines) and provide alerts about dangerous drug combinations. Read more.