Recently the FDA approved a new, highly potent, opioid called Dsuvia. This medication was invented for the use of people with acute pain disorders that persist despite the use of other pain medications. The medicine is in a pre-filled, single use, syringe applicator to reduce the chance of overuse or misuse of the drug. 

     The controversy surrounding this new drug is in part because of the large opioid crisis throughout the world. Many people abuse opiods because of their addictive, pain-killing nature and people often overdose on this highly effective drug. This is a big concern for the U.S. public and why the drug is under such scrutiny in the FDA. I believe that regardless of the drug, opioid or otherwise, drugs will always be abused. People will find a way, but that doesn't mean that this helpful drug should be automatically disregarded. According to the New York Times "opioid overdose deaths surged to more than 40,000 last year, including more than 30,000 from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids", like the new synthetic Dsuvia. These statistics along with the fact that the FDA chairmen (despite voting for the drug) said, “I predict that we will encounter diversion, abuse and death within the early months of its availability on the market.” This statement is confusing to me, why would the president of a U.S. national administration send mixed messages? This is neither sincere nor forthcoming, which is what citizens need when it comes such a controversial debate. 

     I believe that if the FDA is as persistent about their vigilance with accordance to this drug as they claim to be, that the effects can be managed. The FDA promised that the drug would only be administered directly to hospitals and not to pharmacies or other risky middle-men. If this is true then a majority of the risk of the drug getting out to the public can be controlled. The FDA also say that they will audit any and all selling or distribution of the drug in order to track Dsuvia. This is a very important step in the FDA's process, this will shut down and possible trafficking of the drug from hospitals or war-zones. I believe that this medication could be extremely helpful to someone with extreme acute pain disorders or medical facilities, like army bases, that have little access to a variety of medicine. As long as all these protocols are followed to a "T" then this drug will help more than it can hurt.