Experts: New Pain Pill a Killer

A powerful new painkiller set to hit the market in March has set off a firestorm among health-care groups, as a coalition of medical, consumer, and addiction-treatment groups have issued a letter to the FDA asking the agency to revoke approval of the drug Zohydro. The drug, which is a powerful opioid analgesic and used to treat chronic pain, is controversial in light of recent reports on the high rates of opioid addiction in the U.S. "In the midst of a severe drug epidemic fueled by overprescribing of opioids, the very last thing the country needs is a new, dangerous, high-dose opioid," the coalition said. One member, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, the chief medical officer of Phoenix House, said, “It will kill people as soon as it’s released.” Back in December, 29 state attorneys general also called on the FDA to review its decision to approve, and in November members of Congress did as well.