West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is demanding answers from federal agencies after they limited public access to a database on opioid provider registrations. Morrisey says the decision hinders efforts to combat the opioid crisis and holds DEA and Commerce Department accountable.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading the charge to address the ongoing opioid crisis, calling for increased transparency and accountability from federal agencies involved in regulating opioid providers.
In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, Morrisey expressed deep concern over the decision to restrict public access to the Controlled Substances Act Registration Information Database, a critical resource used to monitor active and retired DEA registrations.
"Pulling down the public database came in the wake of my Office's and the Inspector General's reports exposing DEA's repeated failures in fulfilling its statutory duties to the public," wrote Morrisey.
The decision to limit access to the database, which was previously available to the public, has raised alarm among law enforcement, healthcare providers, and public watchdogs. Morrisey emphasized the database's importance for pharmacies verifying provider registrations before dispensing opioids and for holding the DEA accountable for its decisions.
"Broad access to registration information is critical not just for pharmacies making sure a prescription is legitimate, but for journalists and watchdog advocacy groups holding our government accountable," Morrisey stated.
The move to restrict public access comes at a time when opioid-related overdose deaths continue to rise dramatically. According to the DEA's website, opioid deaths increased by 38% from January 31, 2020, to January 31, 2021. West Virginia has been particularly hard-hit by the crisis, with the highest drug overdose mortality rate in the country.
"Each of these realities should have been a reason to increase transparency, not to hide away DEA's registration decisions from public review," Morrisey wrote.
Morrisey's demands for answers extend to the number of applications denied and the criteria used to issue access to the database. He urges immediate action to address these concerns and make the information freely available to the public.
"Agencies should welcome public accountability and I trust they'll do the right thing," Morrisey said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The West Virginia Attorney General's Office has been actively investigating the role of federal regulators in allowing excessive overproduction of prescription opioids, a contributing factor to the opioid epidemic. Morrisey's office has consistently pushed for greater transparency and accountability in the fight against the crisis.
The DEA and Commerce Department have not yet responded to requests for comment on Morrisey's letter and demands for transparency. However, the decision to restrict public access to the opioid provider registration database is a concerning development in the ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic.
