DEA Announces Additional Steps to Address IV Opioid Shortages

The Drug Enforcement Administration continues to adjust manufacturers’ quotas for injectable opioid pain medications in response to concerns by AHA and others about potential shortages and drug production capabilities, and will consider other measures that may be necessary, the agency said last week. “In recent months, the largest U.S. manufacturer of these injectable products has slowed production at one of their manufacturing facilities in order to perform necessary and required upgrades,” DEA said. “As a result, this company voluntarily surrendered a portion of their quota allotment and DEA reallocated these amounts to three DEA-registered manufacturers of [Food and Drug Administration]-approved injectable products in accordance with DEA regulations. It is important to note that an increase in DEA procurement quotas to various manufacturers cannot alone prevent future shortages as DEA does not control the quantity or the speed by which manufacturers produce these or any of their products. DEA is communicating actively and directly with all entities impacted and is committed to making further adjustments to individual procurement quotas as necessary and will also consider other measures that may be necessary to address potential shortages for these products.”