The American Society of Anesthesiologists has announced its support for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's proposal to place propofol into schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act.
If the proposed rule is finalized, it will impose the regulatory controls and criminal sanctions of schedule IV on anyone who handles propofol and products containing the drug.
According to an ASA news release, "ASA hopes that the tighter controls and monitoring that accompany scheduling will reduce the potential for abuse, although we recognize that such action will not completely prevent all problems associated with the misuse of propofol."
Comments on the proposed rule are due Dec. 27.
Read the ASA news release about the proposed propofol scheduling.
View the Federal Register notice about the proposed rule for propofol (pdf).