New York U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer called on the Food and Drug Administration to carefully consider the possible consequences of approving a controversial painkiller, saying it could lead to increases in robbery and addiction.
“It’s tremendously concerning that at the same time policymakers and law enforcement professionals are waging a war on the growing prescription drug crisis, new super-drugs could well be on their way, flooding the market,” said Mr. Schumer, a Democrat. “The FDA needs to grab the reins and slow down the stampede to introduce these powerful narcotics.”
The New York Democrat said Sunday that he has written to the FDA, urging the agency to proceed with caution when approving new “super painkillers” made with highly addictive pure hydrocodone.
“Introducing such a powerful potentially harmful painkiller to the market at a time of sky-high prescription drug abuse and theft would be like throwing fuel on the fire of this epidemic,” said Mr. Schumer. “It would instantly become the most sought-after drug by addicts and criminals. It would make the crisis go from bad to worse.”
The Associated Press reported last month about addiction experts’ fears over four drugs being tested that contain a more powerful version of one of the nation’s most abused painkillers, hydrocodone.
Mr. Schumer has expressed concerns with legalizing the drugs for prescriptions because they would be prized commodities in the black market. If the pure hydrocodone drugs are approved, Mr. Schumer said he would call for additional “robust post-market surveillance” of the drugs as they are marketed, advertised and sold.
