Attorneys General Bondi Urges Repeal of a Federal Law to Hold Drug Manufacturers and Distributors More Accountable for Opioid Oversupply

Attorney General Pam Bondi joined 43 other attorneys general to send a National Association of Attorneys General policy letter to congressional leaders, urging the repeal of a 2016 federal law to restore the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ability to hold drug manufacturers and distributors of opioids accountable.
“The opioid crisis is affecting families across our country and we need every tool available to combat this epidemic and save lives. To ensure the Drug Enforcement Administration is able to stop the oversupply of dangerous prescription opioids, Congress must repeal the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016,” said Attorney General Bondi.
The Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016 severely limits the DEA’s response to the opioid crisis. In 2016, more than two million Americans had an addiction to prescription or illicit opioids. Since 2000, more than 300,000 Americans have died from overdoses involving opioids.
 
According to the NAAG letter, the Act effectively strips the DEA’s ability to issue an immediate suspension order against a drug manufacturer or distributor whose unlawful conduct poses an immediate danger to public health or safety.
Florida is one of the states leading a widespread multistate investigation into major manufacturers and distributors of opioids. As part of this effort, the bipartisan coalition of 41 state attorneys general recently sent subpoenas and demanded additional information about potentially unlawful practices in the distribution, marketing and sale of opioids.
To read the NAAG letter to congressional leaders, click here.