The Washington Post prints NACDS letter on Rx drug abuse, access

ARLINGTON, Va. — A letter to the editor written by National Association of Chain Drug Stores President and CEO Steve Anderson, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to curbing prescription drug abuse and diversion and preserving patient access to prescription pain medication was published in The Washington Post.  



Anderson’s letter was written in response to a recent opinion column, titled “The Legal Drug Epidemic.”  

 

The opinion column discussed the evolution of the “epidemic” of prescription abuse of opioid pain medications. The piece suggests that more regulation to combat the abuse problem is the answer, stating, “It appears that reducing the country’s most troubling drug-related public health problem depends on more, and more intelligent, regulation, not less.”

 

In NACDS’ letter to the editor, Anderson emphasized that the real solution is a collaborative approach that takes into consideration the complexity of this problem. The letter cites NACDS’ support for bipartisan federal legislation in the U.S. Senate and House, titled the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2015 (S. 483 and H.R. 471). The bills seek to bring together key law enforcement, government agencies, health care and other stakeholders to develop a framework that will help legitimate patients access their necessary medications, and work to address drug abuse, addiction and diversion.