What is abuse deterrence and why is it important?
Theresa: Abuse deterrence refers to the ability of a drug formulation to restrict or reduce the potential for abuse of the drug. This is important so that drugs with abuse potential, such as prescription opioid medications, can be readily available to people who need them for a variety of medical conditions. A clear distinction that must be made is that such a formulation would deter abuse, not eliminate it. Simon: With regard to this definition, one must distinguish between abuse and misuse of a drug. With abuse, one takes the drug with the intention of getting high or for the euphoric effects that the drug causes. Misuse is using the drug for its intended purpose, but in a way that was not prescribed by a health care provider (i.e., taking too much of the drug for pain relief, taking the drug to relieve pain for a condition other than for the condition the drug was originally prescribed for, or accidentally misusing the drug. Stephen: Most prescription opioid formulations that are cu
