Editorial: Regulate hydrocodone as Sched 2

There've been 12 years of "study," but no decision from the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Agency on whether hydrocodone should be restricted like the similar oxycodone. It's easy to wonder whether the feds are evaluating the drugs or using them.

At issue is whether hydrocodone, often sold as Vicodin or Lortab, should go from being a Schedule III drug to Schedule II. That change would make access more restrictive, most notably eliminating any refills of the initial prescription and prescriptions that come to the pharmacy via phone or fax. The change would cause some inconvenience and expense for chronic pain sufferers, who'd be forced to visit the doctor more frequently. But it would also help limit the amount of hydrocodone on the black market, double the penalties for trafficking and encourage patients who could get by on nonnarcotic pain medication to seek alternatives.

Hydrocodone abuse is skyrocketing. In 2009, it accounted for a staggering 86,000 emergency room visits in the United States. Users who start with easy access to prescriptions can grow to need more, and that's led to an increase in pharmacy robberies, including the one in Medford in June that left four people murdered and 11,000 hydrocodone pills stolen.

A proposed state database tracking all prescriptions of such drugs by patient would be wise. Increased treatment and awareness are also necessary. But making hydrocodone a Schedule II drug would help, too.

If there's truly some reason that shouldn't happen, the DEA and the FDA -- after 12 years -- need to produce it. hN