DEA ISN'T 'OUT TO GET' DOCTORS

Chronic pain is a serious problem for many Americans, and the Drug
Enforcement Administration's (DEA) goal is to ensure that patients with
legitimate need have access to pain medications that relieve suffering and
improve quality of life.

At the same time, prescription drug abuse is exploding. When one in 10 high
school seniors reports abusing prescription painkillers, DEA is obligated
to protect our children and the public safety.

DEA's decision to remove the "Frequently Asked Questions" from our Web site
is not a signal that DEA is targeting doctors who legitimately prescribe
pain medication. Rather, the document was found to contain misstatements of
law, so DEA was duty-bound to withdraw and correct it. In less than two
months, we publicly identified the legal misstatements and corrected them.
It's noteworthy that none of the critics claims these corrections are wrong.

Doctors and their patients should not interpret DEA's action as cause for
alarm or as a change in investigative practice. DEA continues to recognize
that the overwhelming majority of doctors prescribe controlled substances
lawfully for legitimate medical reasons. The fraction of doctors who have
wound up as defendants have earned their status; indeed, many such cases
arise because worried family members contact DEA when "medication" has
turned into drug abuse, or worse.

In 2003, DEA arrested only 50 doctors out of the almost 1 million who are
registered with us. Those 50 doctors committed egregious acts, such as
exchanging prescriptions for sexual favors or kickbacks.

The small number of doctors we've arrested -- and the flagrant nature of
their crimes -- should reassure the medical community that DEA does not
play doctor. The myth that DEA is out to get doctors needs to be put to
rest. Doctors acting in good faith and in accordance with established
medical norms should remain confident in their ability to prescribe
appropriate pain medications.