FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Rafael Lemaitre 202–395–6618
Wednesday, October 9, 2002
STATEMENT BY WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR JOHN WALTERS ON THE F.D.A.'S APPROVAL OF BUPRENORPHINE
(Washington, DC)—John Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), today issued the following statement regarding the Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve Buprenorphine:
"Today's FDA approval of Buprenorphine, is a significant advance in the treatment of opiate addiction. For the first time physicians now have a medication they can use in an office-based setting to treat those who are opiate dependent."
Director Walters continued, "This decision will result in improved and expanded availability of treatment for those who have been trapped by opiate dependence. Medical doctors will now have one more important tool to heal those addicted to drugs. We look forward to working with the medical community in helping reduce the demand for drugs at various states of the dependence continuum. Physicians are crucial in helping achieve the President's goal of reducing drug use in America. We now look to them to work with us to develop brief intervention therapies for non-dependent users."
