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Last updated on Wednesday, February 28, 2018
(ARLINGTON, Va.) - Today, Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) President and CEO John M. Gray issued a statement in response to new efforts by the Department of Justice to address the opioid epidemic.
"First and most importantly, distributors share the common goal with Attorney General Sessions of ending this opioid epidemic. In support of that goal, we have put forth a number of practical solutions and policy proposals that would meaningfully reduce misuse and abuse of prescription opioids.
"At the same time, we know that we cannot do this alone. Because distributors do not manufacture, promote, prescribe, dispense or drive demand for opioids, we recognize that effectively putting an end to the epidemic will require a new level of collaboration among supply chain stakeholders, law enforcement and the broader community.
"HDA believes that there are tangible and immediate steps that our industry can take in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that would enhance the security of the supply chain and reduce the potential for diversion. In a recent letter to the DEA, HDA called for the development of a 'universal' suspicious orders monitoring database that is run by DEA and is accessible to state and law enforcement and state regulators. Expanding access to DEA's controlled substance data, as well as the agency's advanced analytical tools, would be a critical step to improve information sharing and coordination.
"We are committed to doing our part to reverse the opioid epidemic, but healthcare supply chain partners and providers must come together to determine how to raise awareness about the potential risks of opioid use and abuse; how we can work with law enforcement and others to identify bad actors working against the public health; how practitioners can better manage the treatment of pain in legitimate patients and how to ensure an effective and accessible system of addiction treatment."
For more information on industry efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, click here.
About the Healthcare Distribution Alliance
The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) represents primary pharmaceutical distributors -- the vital link between the nation's pharmaceutical manufacturers and more than 200,000 pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. Since 1876, HDA has helped members navigate regulations and innovations to get the right medicines to the right patients at the right time, safely and efficiently. The HDA Research Foundation, HDA's non-profit charitable foundation, serves the healthcare industry by providing research and education focused on priority healthcare supply chain issues.
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