DEA to Take Action Against Hospital Opioid Shortages

The Drug Enforcement Administration will allow certain drugmakers to increase opioid production in response to drug shortages in hospitals. 

The DEA gave three drugmakers permission to produce more injectable drugs containing morphine, hydromorphine, meperidine and fentanyl after Pfizer voluntarily gave up part of its quota allotment.  Pfizer had cut back production while updating a facility.

However, the agency said, increased quotas alone cannot solve future shortages, as the agency is not responsible for the quantity of drugs manufactured.