Opioid Users Found a ‘Miracle Drug’ to Help Them Quit. Then the DEA Banned It

The Drug Enforcement Administration placed SR-17018, a synthetic opioid, into Schedule I on March 15, 2026, the same classification as heroin. Users on Reddit and Discord reported that the compound reduced or eliminated withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction, according to posts reviewed by NPR. The DEA's decision was made before clinical trials in humans were completed. SR-17018 was developed by researchers at the University of Arizona and had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

• Wired — Opioid Users Found a ‘Miracle Drug’ to Help Them Quit. Then the DEA Banned It

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