FDA ISSUES WARNING TO PET OWNERS USING ANIMALS TO GET OPIOIDS

The US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) raises concern over animal rights abuse by pet owners using their pets to get opioids to misuse and abuse.
FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, said:

"We recognize that opioids and other pain medications have a legitimate and important role in treating pain in animals -- just as they do for people."

"But just like the opioid medications used in humans, these drugs have potentially serious risks, not just for the animal patients, but also because of their potential to lead to addiction, abuse and overdose in humans who may divert them for their own use."

"While each state creates its own regulations for the practice of veterinary medicine within its borders, including regulations about secure storage of controlled substances like opioids, veterinarians should also follow professional standards set by the American Veterinary Medical Association in prescribing these products to ensure those who are working with these powerful medications understand the risks and their role in combatting this epidemic."

"Veterinarians are also required to be licensed by the Drug Enforcement [Administration] to prescribe opioids to animal patients, as are all health care providers when prescribing for use in humans."

"These measures are in place to help ensure the critical balance between making sure animals can be humanely treated for their pain, while also addressing the realities of the epidemic of misuse, abuse and overdose when these drugs are diverted and used illegally by humans."

American Veterinary Medical Association spokesman Michael San Filippo released a statement:

"Though our animal patients are not the ones struggling with opioid addiction, concerns about misuse and diversion are top-of-mind for the veterinary profession, and the AVMA is actively involved in providing resources to practitioners describing alternative ways to treat pain and minimize opioid use."

"While the limited data available suggests diversion from veterinary practices isn't a widespread problem, that doesn't mean we should pretend it doesn't exist. In fact, AVMA policy calls for further research to determine the prevalence of veterinary drug shoppers and to further clarify the degree to which veterinary prescriptions are impacting, or not, the human opioid epidemic."

CHATSWORTH POLICE OFFICER TASERS 87-YEAR-OLDSYRIAN WOMAN CUTTING DANDELIONS WITH A KNIFE

RED ALERT ISSUED AS DEATH TOLL INCREASES IN KERALA FLOOD IN INDIA

AMERICAN SOUL SINGER ARETHA FRANKLIN DIES AT 76 AFTER BATTLE WITH PANCREATIC CANCER

VENEZUELAN POLITICIAN STRIPS TO HIS BRIEFS WHILE GIVING A SPEECH IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY