United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON - The new head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA’s) Office of Diversion Control met with the agency’s registered pharmaceutical manufacturers, importers, and exporters this week to discuss how they can prevent pharmaceutical diversion while minimizing the impact on legitimate commerce.  Almost 300 registrants attended the conference held September 23 and 24 at National Harbor, Maryland.

“This conference  provides DEA with an excellent opportunity to engage with these companies about their roles and responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act, enabling them to help combat diversion of pharmaceuticals and fight the prescription drug abuse epidemic,” said Special Agent Lou Milione, Deputy Assistant Administrator for DEA’s Office of Diversion Control. 
At this forum DEA presents its registrants with information on federal laws and regulations that affect their industry, while giving them the opportunity to ask questions and share their perspectives about regulatory requirements and current issues.

The abuse of controlled-substance medications is an epidemic in America today.  6.5 million people, 12 and over, abused these drugs in 2014, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2013 someone died of an unintentional drug overdose every 13 minutes, and more than half of those overdoses were attributed to these medications.