West Virginia–A surge of overdoses has led the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy to designate the nerve-pain medication Neurontin (Gabapentin), as a “drug of concern.” The board’s acting executive director, Mike Goff, told state lawmakers yesterday, “There has been a tremendous increase in the number of Neurontin dispensing’s,” and overdoses involving it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have approved Neurontin to treat seizures and pain caused by shingles. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has promoted the drug as a safer alternative to prescription opioids. State lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation next month that would classify Neurontin as a controlled substance in West Virginia.

In Kentucky, Neurontin was changed to a schedule 5 controlled substance in July.