Dozens of veterinarians, organizations and companies have weighed in on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) proposal to add the anesthesia induction agent propofol to Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), and many of those are against the change. The DEA proposed adding propofol to schedule IV in an announcement in the Federal Register in October. In its proposal, the DEA cites research that suggests propofol has the potential to be abused, along the lines of other Schedule IV drugs like methohexital and midazolam. "In a survey of academic anesthesiology programs, 18 percent reported diversion or abuse of propofol," the DEA says. "Twenty-eight percent of the reported abusers of propofol had died due to propofol overdose. The individuals who died were affiliated with health care facilities in which there were no pharmacy or security mechanisms to control access to propofol." Hundreds of comments received Since the proposal was published, nearly 300 individuals, companies and organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have submitted comments to the agency voicing their opinions about the plan. (The comment period ended Dec. 27) The AVMA and many veterinarians expressed concern over the proposal, and urged the DEA not to schedule propofol.