Pubdate: Wed, 20 Feb 2002
Source: Logan Banner, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002 The Logan Banner
Contact:  http://www.loganbanner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1640
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin)

NO LEGITIMATE USE FOR OXYCODONE?

Banner Viewpoint

Yesterday, on the final day to introduce bills in the W.Va. Senate, Mingo 
County Senator Truman Chafin introduced a bill which would put oxycodone 
into Schedule I of the list of controlled substances.

What that means in layman's terms is that the bill would ban the use of 
oxycodone. Schedule I drugs are those drugs which have no legitimate 
medical uses. The problem is that oxycodone has legitimate medical uses.

It has been so used for decades. Tylox, a very commonly used pain killer, 
has been around for quite some time.

The senator said his bill was spurred by OxyContin abuse. Oxycodone is the 
active substance in OxyContin.

So, what Chafin apparently believes is that because people abuse OxyContin, 
a cancer patient ? in excruciating pain and dying ? Shouldn't receive the 
benefits of the pain relief provided by OxyContin.

If you are in a car wreck and break a major bone which requires surgery, 
W.Va. Senator Truman Chafin doesn't want you to be able to get a 
prescription for Tylox for pain relief. What are Chafin's motives in 
introducing this bill. Does he really want sick people to be deprived of 
the medicine which they need?

Chafin is running for re-election this year. His opponent is Mingo County 
physician Diane Shafer, who, as an orthopedic surgeon, undoubtedly 
prescribes potent pain-killers in her professional practice.

Will Chafin run his campaign on the backs of West Virginia's sickest residents?
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MAP posted-by: Alex