The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Robert Califf, MD, joined a panel of state leaders and physicians in Charleston, W.Va., on Tuesday to discuss the national opioid epidemic.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D–W.Va.) who urged the FDA to take a more active role in fighting opioid addiction. Senator Manchin proposed requiring the agency to seek advice from an advisory committee before approving opioid medications. The FDA would have to provide justification to Congress when approving an opioid against the advice of the committee.
The panel also discussed implementing more education measures for prescribers and how to improve treatment for opioid addicts.