The Obama administration plan to try quelling prescription-drug abuse includes a Food and Drug Administration requirement that some painkiller manufacturers produce new educational tools, reports the Wall Street Journal. The rule affects makers of long-acting and extended-release opioids, which include oxycodone, morphine and methadone. “This growing public-health crisis is suffocating our society,” said Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Howard Koh.
Education won’t become mandatory for physician licensing without congressional approval. Michele Leonhart, Drug Enforcement Administration chief, said, “I believe you’ll see great interest from members of Congress.” In the meantime, the FDA hopes to entice physicians to receive the education voluntarily by offering continuing education credits, called CME or CE, required to maintain board certification.