The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday that it has approved frequently abused painkiller OxyContin for kids as young as 11 years old. According to the federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, only limited use of the drug has been approved.

Dr. Sharon Hertz, director of new addiction products for the FDA, said, “Studies by Purdue Pharma of Stamford, Connecticut, which manufactures the drug, "supported a new pediatric indication for OxyContin in patients 11 to 16 years old and provided prescribers with helpful information about the use of OxyContin in pediatric patients”.

The previously abused painkiller OxyContin is a version of oxycodone drug, which is extremely powerful. Purdue worked on the newly approved OxyContin some years ago and made it harder. But it is still not clear that the new use of the drug will be safe.

As per reports by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40 individuals die in the country from opioids alone every day. Earlier, Michael Botticelli, director of National Drug Control Policy, said that opioids’ safety is a notable concern in the country.

Botticelli revealed that for about 37% of all overdose deaths in the country, opioids are responsible, and it’s a very serious matter. It is difficult to find out real impact of opioids because a large percentage of death certificates do not disclose which drug is accountable for the drug overdose, Botticelli added.