By John A. Gilbert & Larry K. Houck – On February 29, 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), exercising its emergency scheduling authority under 21 U.S.C. § 811(h)(2), extended the temporary scheduling of five synthetic cannabinoids: JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 and cannabicyclohexanol until August 29, 2012. …
By John A. Gilbert, Jr. & Larry K. Houck – The Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) has issued a report focusing on federal agency efforts to educate prescribers and the public about prescription pain reliever abuse and misuse. The report’s title, “Prescription Pain Reliever Abuse: Agencies have …
By James R. Phelps – Over the New Year's Day weekend, The New York Times reported on the shortage of ADHD drugs, with this quote: “‘We have reached out to the D.E.A. and told them that there are shortage issues,’ said Valerie Jensen, associate director of …
By Larry K. Houck – The Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) published its long awaited final rule in the Federal Register today (76 Fed. Reg. 77,330 (Dec. 12, 2011)) placing carisoprodol into schedule IV of the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). Federal scheduling of carisoprodol follows control …
In his recent article appearing in FDLI Update, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. Of Counsel, and former diversion investigator for the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Larry K. Houck, explains the scope of DEA pre-registration and cyclic inspections as a step-by-step guide to actions and procedures …
By Karla L. Palmer & John A. Gilbert – Last week Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced a bill (S. 1560) to facilitate controlled substance access for residents of residential long-term care facilities. The proposed bill, which would amend the federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), specifically 21 …
By Larry K. Houck – The Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) on July 6, 2011 seeking to raise initial registration and renewal fees for all registrants. 76 Fed. Reg. 39,318 (July 6, 2011). Citing increased diversion control activities, DEA justified …
By John A. Gilbert & Karla L. Palmer – On May 9, 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") published a proposed rulemaking addressing the “Consolidation of Seizure and Forfeiture Regulations” to conform with the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act ("CAFRA") of 2000. When finalized, the rule will …
In his recent article appearing in FDLI Update, Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. Associate Peter M. Jaensch examines the increasing legislative efforts by states to require prescriptions for products containing methamphetamine precursors (such as pseudoephedrine and ephedrine), and to list them as Controlled Substances. Mr. …
By John A. Gilbert, Jr. & Peter M. Jaensch – In a press conference at the National Press Club on April 19, 2011, the Administration presented its action plan (“Plan”) to address concerns about the increase in prescription drug abuse. The Plan is entitled: “Epidemic: Responding to …
By John A. Gilbert & Karla L. Palmer – On Wednesday, April 13, 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) published an Interim Final Rule with a request for comments on the “Self-Certification and Employee Training of Mail-Order Distributors of Scheduled Listed Chemical Products.” See 76 Fed. …
By John A. Gilbert & Peter M. Jaensch – Following what appears to have been the stall of the Arkansas prescription-only Pseudoephedrine bill (House Bill 1444) in mid-March, on March 23, 2011, Arkansas enacted a new law in the effort to combat illicit methamphetamine production. …
By Larry K. Houck – Early March on Capitol Hill has seen a flurry of legislation designed to combat a number of perceived controlled substance problems, including opioid treatment, pain management, drugs marketed to kids and pill mills. Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2011 Senator …
By Susan J. Matthees – A new development in the ongoing battle involving sodium thiopental, one of the drugs used for lethal injections, surfaced today when the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) seized Georgia’s supply of the drug. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a DEA spokesperson confirmed …
By Peter M. Jaensch & John A. Gilbert – Since the passage of the federal Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act in 2005 and state legislation adopted in most states around the same time, retail sales of over-the-counter (“OTC”) cold and allergy products containing pseudoephedrine (“PSE”) have been subject to …
