On November 4, 2013, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking placing Tramadol into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This action comes after a recommendation from the Assistant Secretary for Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, and after an evaluation of other relevant information regarding the abuse potential of Tramadol. The DEA’s move to schedule Tramadol follows the actions of many states to schedule the drug, as there are currently 10 states that have scheduled Tramadol as a controlled substance. If adopted, this action would impose “the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to Schedule IV controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, dispense, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities, or possess) or propose to handle [T]ramadol.”
The DEA is accepting comments on the proposed rule until January 3, 2014.
Click here to view the Notice and to get more information regarding commenting.
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