The FDA’s role in combating the Drug War, at least the one which pertains to prescription narcotic medications, took a step forward yesterday as it approved an extended release form of the heavily abused drug OxyContin — sometimes called “hillbilly heroin”. The drug’s pharma manufacturer has attempted to prevent any sort of adulteration to the drug as it cannot be destroyed in any way in order to release the compound for abuse.

The verdict is out on how such a plan will curb misuse — when all junkies have to do is simply increase the quantity taken to obtain the same effect — but the step toward efforts to decrease the drug’s diversion is still a step in the right direction. As a condition of approval, the pharma manufacturer is also required to conduct a postmarketing study to evaluate the potential benefits of the new formulation with respect to abuse and misuse of OxyContin.

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