Not only have those dealing withchronic conditions become addicted to painkillers due to what werelikely inappropriate prescriptions, but prescriptions often includefar more pills than necessary. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The FDA has come under bipartisan fire in recent years for itsoversight of opioids. Treatment advocates and lawmakers have blamedthe agency for turning a blind eye to the widespread abuse of prescription medication,both by approving powerful new opioids for medical use and forfailing to put in place effective rules to prevent inappropriateprescriptions.

The agency has proposed new rules that will require drugmakersto conduct studies examining the effectiveness of their medicationswhen used for chronic conditions.

The rules aim to address the fact that doctors are oftenprescribing highly addictive drugs to treat chronic pain. Manyexperts have argued that powerful opioids should only be usedoccasionally to treat acute pain.

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Notably, the FDA approved the use of OxyContin for chronic painwith no evidence that it can effectively reduce pain in thelong-term.

“There are certain important questions that we could answer byproperly studying the chronic administration, looking at theefficacy over time,” explained FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb inrecent testimony to a Congressional committee.

Experts have highlighted a number of medical practices that havefacilitated widespread opioid addiction. Not only have thosedealing with chronic conditions become addicted to painkillers dueto what were likely inappropriate prescriptions, but prescriptionsoften include far more pills than necessary to deal with the painthat is being targeted, such as recovering from wisdom toothremoval.

Painkiller addiction has played a major role in fueling anexplosion in heroin use, as opioid addicts who have exhausted theirprescriptions turn to a cheaper fix on the street. Since 2017nearly 50,000 Americans have died of opioid overdoses.

Read more: 

• Data-mined patient 'risk scores' being used topolice opioid use
• Opioids now kill more people than carsdo
• Understanding the president's opioidcommission