United States Drug Enforcement Administration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Drug Enforcement (DEA) Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg and the Chief of DEA’s Office of Diversion Control, Lou Milione hosted a meeting today in Washington with industry leaders representing the prescription drug supply chain in America.  The purpose of their dialogue was to discuss ways to minimize pharmaceutical diversion while maintaining legitimate commerce and patient access. 

“The pharmaceutical industry has a vital role on the front lines of preventing drug misuse and abuse across America, as do we, and we plan to work closely with them,” said Acting Administrator Rosenberg.  “Today’s forum helps us all to find the right balance between providing patients with important prescription medications and reducing the addictions, overdoses, and crimes that too often result from these substances falling into the wrong hands.”

“DEA is creating opportunities to interact with these companies about their roles and responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act.  A clear understanding of each other’s goals and challenges better equips both of us to fight our country’s prescription drug abuse epidemic,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator Milione.

At this forum, DEA presented attendees with information on federal laws and regulations affecting their industry, and provided a forum to ask questions, share their perspectives and voice concerns about regulatory requirements and current issues.

The abuse of controlled-substance medications is an epidemic in America today.  6.5 million people aged 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.