Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 Source: Charlotte Observer (NC) Copyright: 2002 The Charlotte Observer Contact: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78 Author: J. David Haddox Note: J. David Haddox, D.D.S., M.D., is senior medical director, health policy, for Purdue Pharma L.P. Full prescribing information for OxyContin Registered can be found at www.purduepharma.com. SERIES MASKS THE TRUE NATURE OF DRUG ABUSE The Observer's series on abuse of OxyContin tablets that characterizes this FDA-approved prescription medication as a "scourge" is a disservice to the millions of patients who live in pain every day and the health-care professionals dedicated to alleviating their suffering. These articles do illustrate the devastating effects of drug abuse and addiction. However, focusing solely on the abuse of one medication, when many other drugs are abused in greater numbers, masks the true dimension and nature of the drug abuse problem in the Carolinas. As a schedule II narcotic, OxyContin is in the most tightly controlled class of prescription medications in the country. Any opioid pain medication has the potential to be abused and can be a target of criminal drug traffickers. When used as directed under the care of a physician, these medications can provide much needed relief to people living with persistent, debilitating pain. Putting the abuse of OxyContin into perspective, a source from the Management Information Research unit of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services stated that for the fiscal year just ended in June, of 55,474 persons presenting for substance abuse treatment, only 239 identified OxyContin as their primary, but not necessarily only, drug of choice. Thus, less than one-half of one percent of the cases in South Carolina involved OxyContin as the primary reason for treatment. While we understand that similar data for North Carolina are not available, we would expect a similar trend. While it is certainly appropriate for The Observer to inform the public about the dangers of abusing medications, calling a pain medication "the heroin of the 2000s" is likely to prevent physicians from prescribing appropriately and patients from receiving the benefits of effective treatments. The Observer's articles largely ignore the unprecedented steps my company has taken to fight prescription drug abuse in the Carolinas and elsewhere. Company officials have had a number of meetings with state and local regulatory and law enforcement officials in both North and South Carolina to share information and cooperate on prevention efforts. We have sponsored numerous non-promotional education programs to teach healthcare professionals how to properly treat pain while reducing abuse and diversion. Purdue Pharma has also developed a prescription drug abuse awareness program to warn teens and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription medicines. The company is working to develop abuse-resistant medications that will deter abusers while still providing pain relief to patients. We offer physicians free tamper-resistant prescription pads designed to help prevent prescription fraud and forgery. We are supporting the implementation of well-designed state prescription monitoring programs to help identify and stop "doctor shopping" without compromising patient care and privacy. We are developing a national surveillance system to study abuse and diversion of controlled prescription medications so that more effective intervention efforts can be developed and implemented. We have taken steps to help law enforcement stop smuggling of the product into the United States from Mexico and Canada. The Observer repeats allegations that Purdue Pharma over-promoted the benefits of OxyContin while not adequately disclosing potential risks. These allegations are untrue. Purdue's marketing efforts to physicians are conservative by any standard of pharmaceutical marketing and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our promotional materials have always been accompanied by prescribing information for physicians that clearly discloses warnings about potential side effects and the risk of diversion, abuse and addiction. Our sales representatives are rigorously trained to educate prescribers on the proper use of the medication. By partnering with leading experts in the fields of pain medicine, addiction and law enforcement, and investing hundreds of millions of dollars on research, prevention and education efforts, Purdue Pharma is doing more than any other pharmaceutical company to combat the illegal trafficking and abuse of prescription drugs. We will continue our efforts to ensure these medicines remain accessible to responsible prescribers and patients with pain, while working to help keep them out of the hands of abusers and criminals. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- J. David Haddox, D.D.S., M.D., is senior medical director, health policy, for Purdue Pharma L.P. Full prescribing information for OxyContin Registered can be found at www.purduepharma.com. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth