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US Government Watchdog Faults DEA for Slow Response to Opioid Crisis

Reuters

   A U.S. government watchdog on Tuesday harshly criticized the Drug
   Enforcement Agency for its response to the opioid crisis, saying that
   amid a surge in opioid-related deaths the agency failed to use its most
   powerful deterrent and authorized an increase in pain pill output.

   A report released by Justice Department Inspector General Michael
   Horowitz, whose office is an internal government watchdog, found the
   DEA was "slow to respond to the dramatic increase in opioid abuse"
   since 2000.

   The report criticized the DEA for cutting back on use of an enforcement
   tool known as "immediate suspension orders," which allows it to halt
   pill shipments, between 2013 and 2017.

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