Pubdate: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 Source: Daily Independent, The (KY) Copyright: 2001 The Daily Independent, Inc. Contact: http://www.dailyindependent.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573 Author: Jos. E. Hopwood Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin) OXYCONTIN EDITORIAL RIGHT TO THE POINT Your editorial on OxyContin (Sept. 26) was right to the point. People have every right to whatever medical science can do to alleviate their pain. Policemen are not doctors of medicine and have no business restricting the use of the drugs in the doctors' arsenal. The reason OxyContin has been so successful as a drug of recreation is that it is an ideal substitute for expensive heroin. If we want to end the OxyContin wars, we must allow doctors to prescribe heroin legally for recreational users. Heroin itself remains the best and cheapest treatment for heroin addiction and for that reason must be available. Jos. E. Hopwood Quantico, Md. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh