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Wire · operational-macro

Fixing the controlled substance quota system: Why the law and the regulator must change

Published

10 September 2026

Topic

operational-macro

Sectors

Healthtech Infrastructure

Geography

United States

Source

Read at brookings.edu

Verified

Fusion42 · 10 September 2026 · Fusion42 review

The current DEA-controlled quota system for controlled substances in the US creates rigid supply limits causing chronic shortages of essential injectable opioids and ADHD stimulants despite federal resilience policies. The article proposes shifting quota administration from DEA to FDA to align production with patient needs and improve supply chain flexibility.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Healthtech Infrastructure.

◆ The Wire takeaway

You must reframe US controlled substance supply constraints as a regulatory bottleneck, not just a supply issue. This opens a legislative window to shift quota control to FDA, which directly improves market access and supply flexibility for pharmaceutical founders targeting ADHD stimulants and opioids.

Coverage

1 source · 10 Sep 2026

Related on Wire

Topics

Healthtech Infrastructurecontrolled-substancesdrug-shortagesdea-quotafda-regulationhealth-infrastructure