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New England governors urge FDA to set tougher opioid labels

BOSTON (AP) — The governors of all six New England states have sent a letter urging the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to tighten warnings on opioids.
The governors said the FDA should require changes on labels for immediate release opioids to make sure patients and doctors understand the risk of addiction, overdose, neonatal abstinence syndrome and death associated with the drugs.
The governors said the FDA already requires the most restrictive labeling language for extended release and long-acting opioids.
The letter dated Monday comes amid a spike in the number of heroin and opioid related deaths. The governors said abuse of opioid painkillers can lead to heroin addiction.
The governors said opioid abuse also imposes what they described as significant costs on the nation’s health care system.
(Click here to read the full letter to the FDA and here for Health Canada)
The Northeast Governors met Monday morning in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador where the members participated in the 39th annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP). The New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers are in Newfoundland to discuss issues of regional importance including energy, trade and transportation. Governors Malloy (CT), Hassan (NH), Baker (MA), Shumlin (VT), LePage (ME) and a representative from Rhode Island participated in today’s CONEG meeting.
The Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG) is an association that encourages intergovernmental cooperation in the Northeast through joint consideration of common issues relating to the economic, environmental and social well-being of the Northeast states. Members include Governor Dannel P. Malloy (CT & CONEG Chair), Governor Charlie Baker (MA & CONEG Vice-Chair), Governor Paul LePage (ME), Governor Maggie Hassan (NH), Governor Andrew Cuomo (NY), Governor Gina Raimondo (RI), and Governor Peter Shumlin (VT).

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