New method describes measuring  strontium isotopes can be used as a chemical marker for geography and geology to differentiate heroin samples from different geographic regions.

Joshua DeBord, Ali Pourmand, Sarah C. Jantzi, Sini Panicker, Jose Almirall. Profiling of heroin and assignment of provenance by 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotope ratio analysis. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2017; DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2017.07.049

The FDA “notified 74 manufacturers of immediate-release opioid analgesics intended for use in the outpatient setting that their drugs will now be subject to a more stringent set of requirements under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).

The REMS requires that training be made available to health care providers who prescribe IR opioids, including training on safe prescribing practices and consideration of non-opioid alternatives.”

https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2017/09/fda-takes-important-steps-to-stem-the-tide-of-opioid-misuse-and-abuse/

A recent study from the Annals of Emergency Medicine founds that compared to other settings, emergency room prescriptions for opioids found more likely to be in compliance with CDC recommendations and have a lower risk of progression to long term opioid use.

• Opioid Prescribing for Opioid-Naive Patients in Emergency Departments and Other Settings: Characteristics of Prescriptions and Association With Long-Term Use

  Jeffery, Molly Moore et al.

  Annals of Emergency Medicine , Volume 0 , Issue 0 ,

As part of CVS’s commitment to fighting the national opioid abuse epidemic, CVS is:

•  limiting to seven days the supply of opioids dispensed for certain acute prescriptions for patients who are new to therapy;
• limiting the daily dosage of opioids dispensed based on the strength of the opioid; and
• requiring the use of immediate-release formulations of opioids before extended-release opioids are dispensed.

https://cvshealth.com/newsroom/press-releases/cvs-health-fighting-national-opioid-abuse-epidemic-with-enterprise-initiatives