Here are excerpts from a statement issued by Purdue Pharma in response to questions from the Los Angeles Times.
On Abuse & Diversion Detection
Purdue's programs to combat opioid abuse and diversion have been reviewed by law enforcement agencies and government officials. In fact, after reviewing our program, an attorney general required another opioid maker to implement a similar ADD (Abuse and Diversion Detection) program.
Our procedures help ensure that whenever we observe potential abuse or diversion activity, we discontinue our company's interaction with the prescriber or pharmacist and initiate an investigation.
While we make information in our ADD program available to law enforcement and state medical boards, it would be inappropriate to direct every single anecdotal and often unconfirmed claim of potential misprescribing to these organizations.
On Lake Medical
Purdue was proud to assist federal authorities in their prosecution of that criminal drug ring, which led to several convictions. Federal prosecutors in that case employed information obtained through Purdue's ADD and OMS programs.
On compliance with federal law
We have robust programs designed to ensure that Purdue is compliant with the Controlled Substances Act and have at all times complied with the law. Furthermore, we have a long record of close coordination with the DEA and other law enforcement stakeholders to detect and reduce drug diversion.
On drugmaker responsibility
Each registrant in the supply chain is responsible for monitoring and reporting suspicious orders to DEA. Once Purdue identifies the potential suspicious activity of a wholesaler's customer, Purdue informs the wholesaler, so they can perform their due diligence based on their broad access to all the pharmacy's products, not just Purdue products.
On the limitations of its anti-diversion programs
With the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to criticize private sector programs for failing to detect every instance of sophisticated and covert criminal activity, but law enforcement considers these programs important tools in helping identify inappropriate opioid prescribing and diversion.
