DEA's Crackdown On Opioids Has Led To Uptick Of Illicit Trading On Digital Black Market

Sales of prescription opioids on so-called cryptomarkets rose faster after 2014 in the U.S. than elsewhere. By July 2016, sales through cryptomarkets in the U.S. represented 13.7 percent of all drug sales.

Stat: The DEA Is Playing 'Whack-A-Mole' As It Tries To Stamp Out The Opioid Crisis

Four years ago, the Drug Enforcement Agency decided to make it harder to obtain the most commonly prescribed opioid painkillers — specifically, pills such as Vicodin that contain hydrocodone. The move worked: Prescriptions for hydrocodone-based opioids fell by a whopping 26 percent between June 2013 and June 2015. But the tactic appears to have created yet another problem — there has been a notable uptick in illicit trading of opioids on the “dark net,” according to a new study published in BMJ. (Silverman, 6/13)

Meanwhile —

CQ: House Holds Second Day Of Opioid Votes

The House moved into its second day of a two-week stretch focused on opioid bill votes. The chamber on Wednesday is expected to pass several more noncontroversial bills intended to combat the opioid crisis. The House passed 25 opioid bills on Tuesday sent to the chamber by the Energy and Commerce Committee. Wednesday’s opioid bills come from five different committees and have a broader focus, touching on topics from support programs to veterans issues. (Raman, 6/13)

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