Pubdate: Wed, 20 Feb 2002 Source: Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram (WV) Website: http://www.exponent-telegram.com/ Address: Clarksburg Publishing Company, P.O. Box 2000, Clarksburg, WV 26302 Contact: Clarksburg Publishing Company 2002 Author: Matt Harvey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin) OXYCONTIN BILL SHOULD SPUR NEEDED DEBATE IN STATE It's probably a good idea that a bill has been introduced in the West Virginia Legislature that would ban the main ingredient in the popular painkiller OxyContin. Whether the bill should be passed or not is another matter. Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, introduced the bill Monday, the last day he could. Chafin told The Associated Press he was prompted to push the bill because OxyContin abuse is becoming a tragic situation, especially in southern West Virginia. Some law enforcement officials in North Central West Virginia say abuse of the painkiller also is starting to become a problem here. Making OxyContin illegal wouldn't eliminate the problem. Abusers simply would find it illegally, the way they get marijuana, methamphetamines, crack or heroin. And OxyContin can provide much-needed relief for some seriously ill people. But it also seems pretty clear that violent crime is on the rise in our state, and that it's linked to drug use. And quite often, it appears to be linked to OxyContin. Chafin anticipates stiff opposition to his bill from pharmacy lobbyists. But "anything that dangerous, that destructive, causes that much damage, let's take a look at it," he told The AP. Without coming out in favor or against the bill, we agree with Chafin that it's worth considering the issue. Even if the bill doesn't become law, state legislators likely will talk some more about the growing problem of drug abuse in our state. They'll also talk about how drug abuse can lead to crimes like burglary, robbery or even murder. That kind of discussion alone will make the introduction of this bill worthwhile. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager