In an attempt to help slow the prescription drug abuse epidemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that immediate-release opioid painkillers such as oxycodone and fentanyl will now have to carry a "black box" warning about the risk of abuse, addiction, overdose and death.
Prescription opioid painkillers are divided into two main classes -- extended release, which have more pain-killing opioid per dosage, and immediate release, which have less opioids, but need to be taken more frequently. Ninety percent of opioid prescriptions are for immediate-release painkillers, the FDA said.
The "black box" warnings are the FDA's strongest, and they're meant to educate doctors as they're prescribing medications to patients.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/22/health/fd … index.htmlThis is great news and a step in the right direction. But I am not sure why the government has to mandate it.