The FDA is wrestling with a host of issues surrounding the highly addictive and often abused opioids and just recommended a drug that may provide some help in its effort. Yesterday an FDA advisory committee backed approval of Probuphine, a drug from Titan Pharmaceuticals ($TTNP) for treating opioid addiction. If approved, it will be one small piece of a very large and complicated effort to deal with the drugs. Doctors rely heavily on opioids for pain control, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that in 2010, more than 16,000 people died of opioid overdoses, prompting some in Congress to call for tighter controls. The FDA last month held hearings as it continues to walk a very fine line between the dangers of addiction and the need for flexibility in how doctors treat patients with chronic pain. It heard strong support from both those who want more restrictions on how doctors prescribe the drugs and those who fear such limits would harm patients. Story | More