Jackson Case Sheds Light on Problem of M.D. Abuse

The Wall Street Journal reports that the sedative possibly implicated in the death of pop singer Michael Jackson is being considered for tighter regulation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Propofol, which is also called Diprivan and has been on the market for 20 years, hasn't been on the list of controlled substances. But the FDA has been looking at it for the past two years after a citizen petition; the decision is expected within a few months.

There are some complicating issues here. First is many anesthesiologists' belief that making propfol a controlled substance would limit its use in settings like colonoscopies, bone repair, and knee surgery. The user isn't groggy and the anesthesia leaves the system quickly. But there is a small but growing problem that some in the medical profession are hooked on it; there have been at least seven deaths in 10 years connected with propofol addiction and as many as several dozen in recent years.