Letter to FDA on dissolution of Drug Abuse Advisory Committee (DAAC)

November 14, 2000

Dr. Janet Woodcock
Director, Center for Drug Evaluation Research
Food and Drug Administration
WOCII/Rm.6027
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857

Dear Dr. Woodcock,

I am writing on behalf of the 159,000 members and affiliates of the American Psychological Association to request clarification on the status of the Drug Abuse Advisory Committee (DAAC) which serves the Division of Anesthetics, Critical Care, and Addiction Medicine. It is our understanding that the FDA intends to dissolve this Advisory Committee. I am writing to learn if this is true, and if so, I would greatly appreciate any information that you can provide relevant to the following questions:

(1) What is the rationale for dissolving the DAAC?
(2) What is the time frame for dissolution and will there be further DAAC meetings?
(3) How do you intend to replace the specialized expertise represented in this forum?

The DAAC has provided critical expertise for nearly three decades on the extremely complex scientific, medical, and public health issues related to treatments for drug dependence. DAAC has provided similar expertise during the approval of drugs not intended for drug addiction treatment (e.g., analgesics) but which nonetheless pose complex issues related to abuse liability, abuse potential and the risk of diversion.

The American Psychological Association is extremely concerned about the possible loss of this vital infrastructure at a time when the medication discovery and development pipeline is generating record numbers of new pharmacotherapeutic agents.

We stand ready to assist the FDA in any way possible to ensure that the critical advisory role provided by the DAAC is not lost.

Sincerely,

Richard McCarty, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Science

cc: Dr. Linda Suydam
Dr. Cynthia McCormick