FDA Continues Important Work on Substance Use and Overdose Prevention Efforts
By: Robert M. Califf, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs
Overdose prevention, reduction in opioid and other substance use disorders (SUD), and effective treatment and support for those with SUD are key priorities for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and personally for me as Commissioner. In 2016, during my previous tenure as Commissioner, I requested that the National Academies for Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) examine the FDA’s framework for making regulatory decisions regarding opioids. NASEM issued its report, Pain Management and the Opioid EpidemicExternal Link Disclaimer, in 2017. The report contained seven specific recommendations for the FDA’s consideration, as well as broader recommendations for federal agencies, state and local governments, and health-related organizations.