DEA proposes reducing five opioid production quotas for 2020

The Drug Enforcement Administration this week proposed reducing aggregate production quotas for five opioid controlled substances in 2020. The proposal would reduce the amounts of fentanyl by 31%, hydrocodone by 19%, hydromorphone by 25%, oxycodone by 9% and oxymorphone by 55%. The five opioid substances were subject to special scrutiny following the enactment last year of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, which requires DEA to estimate the amount of diversion of the covered substance that occurs in the United States and make appropriate quota reductions. DEA will accept comments on the 2020 proposed aggregate production quotas, which address more than 250 Schedule I and II controlled substances, through Oct. 15.