Hydrocodone, a drug that’s readily available in such medications as Vicodin, is a Schedule III substance that is widely prescribed throughout the country. This is seen by some as being problematic given the item’s highly addictive nature, and to combat the threat, the Food and Drug Administration has announced new recommendations focused on curbing the ease of access citizens have to this drug. If reclassified as Schedule II, as the FDA is recommending, the drugs would fall in line with the regulatory burden placed on such items as morphine and oxycodone. A written prescription would be required to obtain the drug, and patients would have their hands tied in terms of the number of refills they could obtain without a subsequent doctor visit. The Drug Enforcement Administration was reportedly in favor of this move.
Click here for more about the FDA’s recommendation.