Facebook to Redirect Users Searching for Opioids to Federal Crisis Help Line

Facebook has announced that users attempting to buy opioids or seeking out addiction treatment will be rerouted to information about a federal crisis help line, reports Stat . The announcement precedes an upcoming "opioids summit" convened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to get tech companies to implement additional measures to help curb the U.S. opioid epidemic. Facebook notes the development of this new feature predates FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb's focus on tech companies' role in opioids issues. The company also has appointed Avra Siegel, a veteran of the Obama administration, to lead its opioids policy effort. According to Siegel, the redirect feature is specific to Facebook, but planned in consultation with Facing Addiction and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Facing Addiction Vice President Greg Williams says Facebook sought to seize on moments of vulnerability, which include searches either for treatment or for opportunities to purchase illegal drugs, to spur addicts to seek treatment. Facebook's initiative is part of a wider discussion about how much accountability technology companies assume for illicit activity occurring on their platforms.