BOSTON - 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.