Hydrocodone To Be Reclassified As Schedule Ii Drug

[LongHairBri]

Hydrocodone to be Reclassified as Schedule II Drug

 

http://wvgazette.com...05230316?page=1

 

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- U.S. senators on Wednesday evening unanimously passed an amendment to a Food and Drug Administration reauthorization bill that would reclassify all hydrocodone substances and make punishment for their trafficking more severe.

 

The amendment, introduced by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., would reclassify painkillers like Vicodin and Lortab as Schedule II drugs, which also affects how they are to be stored and prescribed.

 

For instance, patients would need an original prescription for refills, hydrocodone pills would need to be transported and stored more securely and traffickers would be subject to increased criminal penalties, according to a news release from Manchin's office.

 

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and three other senators -- including two other Democrats and a Republican -- co-sponsored the amendment.

 

"I'm truly pleased that this amendment has passed and will make it much harder for anyone to abuse these prescription drugs," Manchin said in a statement. "I offered this legislation on behalf of the countless West Virginians whose lives have been cut short by drug abuse and the families who are picking up the pieces.

 

"I'm committed to working extremely hard across the aisle to see this most important legislation passed," he said.

 

Prescription drugs are responsible for about 90 percent of all drug-related deaths in West Virginia, and about 75 percent in the U.S, according to Manchin's release.

 

Schedule I drugs contain the most dangerous substances. Currently, hydrocodone is considered a Schedule II drug, but when combined with substances like Tylenol, they are listed in a less stringent category, Schedule III.

 

The amendment would make all substances containing hydrocodone Schedule II drugs.

 

 

Findings show that more than 40 people die every day from overdoses involving narcotic pain relievers like hydrocodone, methadone, oxycodone and oxymorphone.

 

"Prescription drug abuse is a very real epidemic that we must stop," Rockefeller said in a statement. "Too many West Virginia families and communities have been hurt terribly, and I've been fighting to turn the tide on abuse."

 

In addition to co-sponsoring Manchin's amendment, Rockefeller introduced a provision to the FDA reauthorization bill that helps to ensure that doctors, nurses and health-care professionals who prescribe painkillers "get the training they need so they don't overprescribe drugs and can reduce the potential for patient abuse," according to a news release from Rockefeller's office.

 

Rockefeller's provision would require the Institute of Medicine to study the scope and scale of education requirements for physicians and other people who prescribe medicine. The Institute of Medicine is an independent agency of medical and public health experts who advise Congress on medical and health issues.

 

Rockefeller also offered an amendment to help support state prescription drug monitoring programs.

[Honeyoil]

1. Create Drug Problem

2. Increase Penalties

3. Fill Prisons

4. Profit!

[Estimated Prophet]

A more harsh punishment for the addict, and a little better training for the doctors who illicitly prescribe them.

Sounds about right.

[ilynnboy]

More prisoners = Less citizens... Duh!!!

Another criminal producing law. Thanks........Not!!

Where is the medical community's advice?.....

...Oh that's right, Being Re-Educated.

By the way Dumb arse, R.N's. Do Not write scripts... get a frigging clue!!!

 

When will government realize People will ingest Substances to affect the way they feel??

Always have, Always will.

Thanks for making addicts Criminals. Another Stupid Idea.

Edited May 24, 2012 by ilynnboy

[Croppled1]

Where are treatment programs that are needed to help patients destroyed by these substances to return to normal mental and physical health in a comfortable manner with support ? Patients take these items as supported by the Government , their Doctors whom they trust unquestionabley even are often forced under compliance through workmans comp programs to perform ... then they are treated like this ? Where is some responsabillity of the system to restore individuals to health rather then create criminals ? The medical profession makes more from failure , the same with the criminal justice system .

Edited May 24, 2012 by Croppled1

[Wild Bill]

"I'm truly pleased that this amendment has passed and will make it much harder for anyone to abuse these prescription drugs," Manchin said in a statement.

 

ROFLMFAO! Yeah right, that approach has worked so well for everything else they tried it on.

[Fat Freddy]

Typical response to a problem...Create a new way to jail poor people.

Causes of substance abuse 1) economic depravity, 2) social pressure=Related to (1). 3) physical need.

For years we were feed what the good life was via the various media outlets. Then reality set in!

We woke up to realize we have been enslaved with a continual chain of propaganda designed to keep us feeding those at the top.

Now I see why the Inca empire failed. The people just walked away and did not look back..