Senator Hassan Responds to FDA Statement on Efforts to Address the Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan responded today to a statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. on the agency’s efforts to address the opioid crisis. The FDA’s statement followed a new report from 60 Minutes, “Did the FDA ignite the opioid epidemic?”

“I appreciate Commissioner Gottlieb’s focus on the devastating opioid crisis and his commitment to learning from the FDA’s past mistakes. The Commissioner’s update on the agency’s efforts to address this epidemic outlines important steps the agency is planning for the coming year on priorities such as supporting the development of new medication-assisted treatment, advancing research in non-addictive pain treatments, and strengthening drug interdiction efforts, however, a number of crucial questions remain. The FDA needs to give a fuller accounting of its past decision-making process regarding the approval and labeling of opioid products, as well as what changes the agency is considering to update how it assesses the risks of opioid drugs. I look forward to working with the FDA to get answers to these questions and to ensure that the agency upholds its mission to enact science-based policies to keep our citizens healthy and safe.”

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