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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.
http://wvgazette.com/News/201205230316?page=1
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.
http://wvgazette.com/News/201205230316?page=1