The “Black Box” of Prescription Drug Diversion

Black Box Warnings in Prescription Drug Labeling:

Prescription drugs are unavoidably associated with adverse effects, but the benefits of using such drugs outweigh the accompanying risks so long as the expert judgment of a licensed practitioner is first applied in the decision to use a drug for a particular patient. Most risks for prescription drugs appear in descending order of importance in the drug’s labeling, i.e., the package insert. The ...

Preventing Prescription Drug Diversion.

THE FACTS In 2013, more than 43,900 Americans died from drug overdose. Prescription drugs contributed to most of those deaths. Opioid pain relievers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone were involved in more than 16,000 of those deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). Approximately 46 Americans die every day from drug overdoses (Jones, Mack, & Paulozzi, 2013). Opi...

Opioid therapy and prescription drug diversion.

Prescription drug abuse in Canada and the diversion of prescription drugs into the illicit drug market.

Prescription drug abuse has received considerable attention in media reports in recent years. The purpose of this article is to describe the Canadian situation and context with regards to prescription drug abuse and the diversion of psychotropic prescription drugs into the illicit drug market, with a focus on the need for more data and interventions. Canada ranks within the top 10% of countries...

Outside the Black Box: Re-assessing Pediatric Antidepressant Prescription.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review is to assess whether evidence supports a favorable risk/benefit profile for pediatric antidepressant use and reconsideration of the black box. METHOD The review examines studies post-black box purporting to show declines in pediatric antidepressant use and rising youth suicide, summarizes evidence for efficacy and safety of pediatric antidepressants, and d...