Assessing Human Abuse Potential To Limit The Misuse And Abuse of Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs, including opioid analgesics, are an important component of modern pain management; however, their tendency to produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, allows for misuse and abuse, which can lead to addiction, overdose, and death. Misinformation about the addictive properties of such medications, and the perception that prescription drugs are less harmful than illicit drugs, are additional contributors to the problem.

The FDA has undertaken efforts to help clinicians manage this widespread issue by instating guidelines to better understand the abuse potential of new drugs, and ensure drugs currently on the market are less likely to be abused through the use of abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs).