Hal Rogers: “Today marks a critical turning point in our country's battle against prescription drug abuse--what CDC has called a…”

“Today marks a critical turning point in our country's battle against prescription drug abuse--what CDC has called a national epidemic. It takes more American lives than car crashes. Unless the Food and Drug Administration takes action today, generic drug-makers will be free to dump cheap painkillers, lacking abuse deterrence, back into U.S. markets--pills that can be easily crushed and which are to be blamed for tens of thousands of emergency room visits and accidental overdose deaths in the last decade. Two weeks ago, at the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, FDA Commissioner Peggy Hamburg acknowledged the many ``individuals and their families whose lives have been shattered by prescription opioid abuse, misuse, and addiction.'' She also affirmed that FDA has the authority to keep these crushable pills off the market when abuse-deterrent technologies are available. It is time to execute that authority, FDA. On behalf of the thousands of families in my region and all over this country, keep crushable pills off our streets and out of our children's hands. ____________________”