The United States Drug Enforcement Administration reduced the number of almost every opioid medication approved for manufacturing in 2017 by 25 percent or more.
The final order on these reductions issued by the DEA establishes an aggregate production quota for the amount of opioids necessary to meet the estimated medical, scientific, research, industrial and export needs for 2017, while also maintaining reserve stocks.
Production quotas were reduced for oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine and other similar medications.
"Earlier this year the CDC issued guidelines to practitioners recommending a reduction in prescribing opioid medications for chronic pain," the DEA said in a release. "For years, DEA and others have been educating practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers and the public about the potential dangers of the misuse of opioid medications."
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