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handle is hein.crs/govekli0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional                                             ______
SResearch Service
Recent Developments in Opioid Regulation
Under the Controlled Substances Act
Updated February 3, 2023
In recent years, policymakers have devoted significant attention to opioid regulation, seeking in particular
to combat the epidemic of opioid misuse and overdoses. Opioids are drugs derived from the opium poppy
or emulating the effects of opium-derived drugs. Some opioids have legitimate medical uses related to
pain management, while others have no recognized medical use. Both pharmaceutical opioids (such as
oxycodone, codeine, and morphine) and non-pharmaceutical opioids (such as heroin) may pose a risk of
abuse and dependence and may be dangerous or even deadly in certain doses.
As part of its response to the opioid crisis, Congress has considered how to regulate non-pharmaceutical
analogues to the powerful opioid fentanyl. At the same time, courts, advocates, and the executive branch
have grappled with the legal status of supervised consumption sites-facilities where illicit drug users can
consume opioids under the supervision of trained staff, receive medical intervention in case of an
overdose, and access services including addiction treatment. In addition, in December 2022, Congress
enacted legislation relaxing certain regulatory requirements for medical providers offering treatment for
opioid use disorder (OUD).
This Legal Sidebar provides information for Congress on recent developments in opioid regulation, with a
focus on regulation under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Sidebar first provides
background information on the legal status of opioids. It then discusses recent legal developments related
to fentanyl analogues, supervised consumption sites, and treatment for OUD. The Sidebar closes with a
summary of selected proposals from the 117th and I 8th Congresses addressing other issues related to
opioid regulation.
Background on Opioid Regulation
Opioids are subject to regulation under multiple provisions of federal and state law. At the federal level,
prescription opioids are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Many
pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical opioids are controlled substances under the CSA. (Many other
prescription drugs are not controlled substances.) Opioids are also often subject to state controlled
substance laws. This Legal Sidebar focuses on regulation of opioids under the CSA.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
LSB10865
CRS Legal Sidebar
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

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