Pubdate: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Karen P. Tandy DRUG AGENCY'S DILEMMA IN PAIN MEDICINE ISSUES Scott Gottlieb's assessment ("Prescription for Trouble," editorial page, March 6) of the Drug Enforcement Administration role in the evaluation of pain medicine is baldly inaccurate: The DEA has neither sought nor obtained legislative authority to limit the approval of new pain products. The men and women of DEA take offense at Dr. Gottlieb's assertion that the DEA has no capacity to understand the need for effective pain treatment. We are parents of young children, children of aging parents, and sometimes patients ourselves who appreciate the need for effective, accessible pain relief to prevent needless suffering. At the same time, we also appreciate the pain of addiction. Prescription drug abuse became a crisis practically overnight. In just five years, the number of Americans abusing prescription drugs rose more than two-thirds -- from 3.8 million abusers to 6.4 million. Painkillers now cause more overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined. It is our responsibility to help make pain medicine available to those who need it and keep it from those who illegally sell and abuse it. We do this by working closely with the medical community. The DEA listened to more than 600 medical professionals, patients and others affected by chronic conditions including pain. Last fall we issued unprecedented policy guidance and proposed new prescription regulations in response to their valuable suggestions. Misstatements that raise the ire of one group or another are obstacles to this critical partnership, and ultimately hinder the effective pain management strategies that Dr. Gottleib allegedly promotes. Karen P, Tandy, Administrator Drug Enforcement Administration Washington - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine