Prescription painkillers can be extremely useful in helping patients overcome pain caused by injuries, health conditions, and some medical treatments, but they also present a serious risk of harm. In fact, prescription painkillers are the leading cause of drug injuries and deaths in the United States. These risks were the reason behind a recent Pain Patch Recall.
Despite the dangers associated with the prescription painkillers already on the market, officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are considering the approval of a new drug that is 10 times stronger than existing painkillers. The decision to move forward with the release of the drug has prompted Indiana Attorney General, Greg Zoeller, to call on federal officials to reconsider the move.
According to FOX 59 News, concerns over potential abuse has driven Zoeller and at least five of his colleagues to ask Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, to overturn the FDA’s 11-2 vote to approve the drug, known as Zohydro.
Zoeller also launched a campaign aimed at raising Indiana citizen’s awareness about the problem of prescription drug abuse.
The Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers with Stewart & Stewart Attorneys recognize the dangers prescription painkillers can pose. That is why the firm applauds efforts to regulate this potentially dangerous drug.