Gottlieb Asks ISPs, Social Media to Remove Illegal Opioid Listings

Internet service providers, social media companies, and other prominent members of the Internet economy need to help identify and remove illegal offers to distribute opioids, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said at the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Internet firms simply aren’t taking practical steps to find and remove these illegal opioid listings,” he said. “There’s ample evidence of narcotics being advertised and sold online.”

Gottlieb said the FDA will soon host a meeting with senior representatives and CEOs of internet stakeholders, in addition to academics and advocacy groups, to identify solutions — such as altering search algorithms to redirect potential opioid purchasers to pages offering treatment programs and risk information.