FDA Approves Opioid Despite Backlash That Drug Carries High Risk of Abuse

​The sublingual opioid sufentanil, also known under the brand name Dsuvia, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) despite criticism that the drug has high potential for abuse. It is 10 times stronger than fentanyl, according to a November 2, 2018, New York Times article. The drug must be dispensed in a single-use applicator, used intravenously under medical supervision, a technique that FDA says makes it suitable for situations in which a patient cannot swallow, according to the article.