New Tool: ProSource
Checkout our packaging and processing solutions finder, ProSource.

Opioids are Getting New Safety Warning Labeling

New opioid painkiller labels will warn of addiction, overdose, and provide disposal and naloxone information.

Screen Shot 2022 04 18 At 2 47 13 Pm
Getty Images

According to a recent MEDPAGE TODAY article, the FDA announced it will require new labels on opioid painkillers that warn about the risks of addiction, abuse, and overdose. The labels will also include information about the safe disposal of unused medication and the availability of naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The new labeling requirements are part of the FDA's ongoing efforts to address the opioid epidemic in the United States.

The FDA's decision comes in response to a citizen petition filed by a group of healthcare providers and advocacy organizations who argued that the current labeling on opioids does not adequately warn about the risks of addiction and overdose. The new labels are expected to be finalized in the coming months and will apply to all immediate-release opioid painkillers, which are the most commonly prescribed form of the drugs. The FDA has also indicated that it is considering similar labeling requirements for extended-release opioid painkillers.

Discover Our Content Hub
Access Healthcare Packaging's free educational content library!
Read More
Discover Our Content Hub
Test Your Supply Chain Smarts
Take Healthcare Packaging's supply chain quiz to prove your knowledge!
Read More
Test Your Supply Chain Smarts