New policies are blocking U.S. pharmacies from accessing controlled substances above certain limits.
The thresholds were introduced as part of a settlement with drug distributors intended to curb the opioid crisis in the U.S.
- Since
July, authorities have blocked pharmacies from accessing certain
medications once their overall orders reach predefined thresholds.
- The
measures apply to controlled substances, which include those used to
treat anxiety and sleep disorders, such as Adderall and Xanax.
- Pharmacists said the rules prevent their patients from accessing a wide range of treatments.
- The
limits have been kept secret to prevent pharmacies from changing
ordering patterns to "get around the thresholds," said Krista Tongring,
head of DEA compliance at Guidepost Solutions.
- Irresponsible drug marketing combined with overzealous prescribing practices resulted in an opioid crisis in the U.S.
- A series of lawsuits
prompted the U.S. government to impose new regulations on the country's
health system, which include the secret order limits placed on
pharmacies.
- There were 564,000 overdose deaths involving opioids in the U.S. between 1999 and 2020.
