WV Officials Tackle New Drug Threat

WSAZ-TV reports that the West Virginia Controlled Substance Advisory Board is looking to add the painkiller Tramadol to the list of controlled substances.

Tramadol is a mild to moderate painkiller but can be addictive. If the drug is added to the controlled substances list, it would be tracked by medical professionals and limitations would be placed on the refills. The House Health and Human Resources Committee has already given its OK, although not everyone thinks it's a problem.

Fayette County delegate, Dr. Margaret Anne Staggers, is also an emergency room physician. She told WSAZ that adding Tramadol to the list doesn't make sense.

"I've never seen anyone coming to the hospital asking for help withdrawing from this drug," Staggers told WSAZ. "I just don't see it as a problem."