https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/federal-government-announces-new-pilot-program-help-stop-illegal-availability-unapproved-opioids?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=e7c4e2a4d4-MR_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-e7c4e2a4d4-149692869

FDA launches pilot program to crack down on illegal opioid sales online

The FDA and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration just launched a 120-day pilot program to prevent the availability of illegal opioids online. Illegal sales of opioids online have boomed in recent years, and the FDA has worked to crack down on these sales, including by sending warning letters to entire networks of unlawful sellers online. The pilot is a continuation of this work, as part of which the FDA will notify three companies that manage and maintain registries of Internet domain names — Neustar, Verisign, and the Public Interest Registry — when it issues warning letters to sites illegally selling opioids. The NTIA will work with the companies to review the FDA's letters and decide whether to take further action, including possibly suspending or blocking the domains. At the end of the four months, the NTIA and FDA will assess whether this program can continue to be a potential solution to addressing illegal online sales of opioids.