The Downside of Upscheduling

Intercontinental Marketing Services (IMS) data estimate 130 million hydrocodone prescriptions were written in 2006, up approximately 50% from 88 million in 2000 [1]. This greater availability is thought to have contributed, at least in part, to hydrocodone's illicit use. In 2012, hydrocodone ranked 1st on the RADARS poison center list and the Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS) System college survey list [2]. The January 2012 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) report showed, among pain reliever-related emergency department (ED) visits involving drug misuse or abuse by adolescents, oxycodone and hydrocodone were the most commonly involved opioids [3]. On March 20, 2012, legislation was proposed to reschedule hydrocodone products and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee voted “yes”, recommending rescheduling of hydrocodone from Schedule 3 to Schedule …