Propofol Abuse

Unless you live under a rock there’s no doubt you know Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009. Also hard to avoid is the fact that prescription medications, including propofol, were found at his home.

Propofol is the country’s most widely used drug to induce general anesthesia as well as for other types of health provider based sedation. It depresses breathing and heart rate and lowers blood pressure.

Two years ago the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was petitioned to make propofol a scheduled drug under the Controlled Substances Act. The brand name version is called Diprivan.

Adding a drug to the federal list of controlled substances is obviously not an overnight process. The DEA seeks recommendations from Department of Health and Human Services officials as part of the review. HHS can keep the motion going or stop it in its tracks. Congress can also step in and add specific drugs to the list via legislation.

Prior to Jackson’s death propofol was seen as having potential for abuse by medical staff since it is generally administered in a hospital setting. However, the Food and Drug Administration has recently received an increasing number of fatality reports linked to propofol. Today, it’s suspected that when it’s abused it’s usually by people seeking sleep, as in Jackson’s case.

Should propofol be considered a controlled substance?

Source: Yahoo! News