AMA Hopeful About HHS Strategies to Reduce Opioid Abuse

The vice president of Heron Therapeutics, physician Erol Onel has built a successful career in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. In his position, he provides scientific leadership to the company and its team of professionals as they seek approval for a long-acting non-opioid pain drug. Over the years, Erol Onel has belonged to numerous organizations, including the American Medical Association.

A recent announcement from the American Medical Association (AMA) shared the organization’s hope for combating the opioid epidemic in the United States. The statement was released in response to a new strategy put forth by Health and Human Services (HHS). This new strategy was outlined during the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, and involves using a $485 million grant to fund treatment and prevention activities within the various states.

Many of the strategies outlined by the HHS fall in line with the AMA’s continual efforts to reduce opioid use through a dedicated task force. The organization’s Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse encourages physicians to use a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to inform prescribing decisions. It also helps patients secure their prescriptions safely, improves physician education, and works to remove the stigma surrounding substance use disorders. These points were also presented during the Rx Summit by AMA board chair Patrice A. Harris, MD.