A Step Forward in the Treatment of Opioid and Alcohol Dependence with Dr. Iilun Murphy and Dr. Marta Sokolowska | Q&A with FDA

The rates of alcohol use disorder increased significantly since the onset of COVID-19, making this a major public health issue, though it’s not discussed as frequently as opioid overdoses. Over 140,000 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year (more than from drug overdoses). Ten percent of Americans over the age of 12 have Alcohol Use Disorder. And according to the 2023 Alcohol Abuse Statistics, 60% of Americans increased their alcohol consumption during COVID-19 lockdowns.

In this podcast, we are joined by Dr. Iilun Murphy, Director of the Office of Generic Drugs in FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), and returning is Dr. Marta Sokolowska, CDER’s Deputy Center Director for Substance Use and Behavioral Health to discuss the recent first generic approval to Vivitrol, a one-month extended-release injectable naltrexone that is used to help people recovering from opioid or alcohol dependence.