U.S. Attorney Duncan Supports Justice Department, DEA Proposal to Reduce Controlled Substances Manufactured in the United States

LEXINGTON, Ky. –The Department of Justice and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have proposed a reduction for controlled substances that may be manufactured in the U.S. next year.  Consistent with President Trump’s “Safe Prescribing Plan” that seeks to “cut nationwide opioid prescription fills by one-third within three years,” the proposal decreases manufacturing quotas for the six most frequently misused opioids for 2019, by an average ten percent as compared to the 2018 amount.  The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) marks the third straight year of proposed reductions, which help reduce the amount of drugs potentially diverted for trafficking and used to facilitate addiction.

 “In the Eastern District of Kentucky, we have all seen and been touched by the tragic consequences of opioid abuse and addiction,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Illicit diversion of prescription opioids has been a significant catalyst for the epidemic and it is a critically important area to focus efforts to stem the tide.  The proposed quota adjustment is another tool in this fight. We support the proposed adjustment, as it will reduce the amount of highly addictive opioids potentially available for illicit diversion.”      

The press release announcing the proposal can be viewed at:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-dea-propose-significant-opioid-manufacturing-reduction-2019