It is estimated that 44 people in the United States die each day as the result of an opioid overdose.
The misuse and abuse of these drugs, prescribed mainly for pain control, makes the development and approval of drugs that can reverse the opioid's effects critical.
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved such a drug: a nasal spray version of naloxone.
“The American Medical Association (AMA) applauds the FDA for approving the nasal spray version of naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose by restoring breathing and preventing death," Dr. Patrice Harris, AMA's chair-elect, said. "The FDA’s swift action will widely increase accessibility to this medication that will help prevent more opioid-related overdoses and save more lives."
Harris said the AMA will continue to back efforts to getting drugs that reverse the effects of opioids on the market.
The organization oversees a Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse, which was put in place in 2014. Through the task force, patient access to naloxone was increased while adherence to prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) was strictly enforced.
“The AMA will continue to work with the administration and Congress on efforts to prevent prescription opioid misuse and support congressional and state efforts to modernize and fully fund PDMPs,” Harris said.
