Pubdate: Mon, 26 Nov 2001
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin)

LET DRUG MAKERS PAY

To the Editor:

Re "Few States Track Prescriptions as Way to Prevent Overdoses" 
(front page, Dec. 21):

The growing problem of misuse of and dependence on OxyContin must be 
directly confronted. Corporate entities must be held accountable for 
the problems they cause. The costs of health care and loss of 
productivity are currently borne by the victim, family, workplace, 
health facilities, police and courts. The least the drug industry and 
marketplace can do is to help remediate the adverse effects of their 
products.

Vouchers for drug dependence treatment programs would be a logical 
place to begin. If legislation is passed to enable recovery of 
medical and legal expenses from the drug producers, they would adopt 
more prudent marketing and sales policies.

TOD H. MIKURIYA, M.D.
Berkeley, Calif., Dec. 21, 2001
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