FDA releases new vet resource for prescribing opioidsAugust 23, 2018The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is launching a new resource guide for veterinarians prescribing opioids for pain management in animals. The issue has come to the fore due to the opioid crisis and the occurrence of people hurting their pets to gain access to the drugs. The FDA says it is committed to addressing the misuse and abuse of drugs on all fronts, with a significant focus on decreasing exposure to opioids and preventing new addiction by taking steps to encourage more appropriate prescribing, said FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, in an official statement. While any health care provider can take advantage of the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program for opioid analgesics, there hasn't been a lot of information tailored specifically to veterinary medicine, he added. "That's why we have developed a new resource containing information and recommendations specifically for veterinarians who stock and administer opioids," Dr. Gottlieb said. "Today, we're issuing important information for veterinarians to ensure they have additional context regarding the potential for people to misuse the products they are prescribing to their animal patients." The issue of abuse stems from the lack of opioids specifically approved for use in animals, …
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