Pubdate: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2005 Johnson Newspaper Corp. Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Larry Seguin Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/people/james+latimer DRUG WAR To The Editor: The continued intrusions of law enforcement into the domain of health care. You think Dr. Latimer's case is political? You're right. The DEA instead of stopping cocaine from Colombia, or heroin from Afghanistan are now precutting and harassing doctors and intimidating sick patients. A recent article in the Washington Post (Nov. 4) tells of the problems arising in the Food and Drug Administration since the DEA has stepped in. The DEA wants the final say over allowing new narcotic medications on the market. Dr. Latimer was forced to surrender his medical license over 'allegations' involving Oxycontin. A brief Internet search on Dr. William Hurwitz will explain Dr. Latimer's decision. Doctors that try to fight the DEA lose. They get 25 years in prison. Is the law equal for everybody? Let's look at an admitted abuser, used Oxycontin daily. Made $3 million a year while hosting radio while on drugs. In 2002 it is 'alleged' he was 'doctor shopping'. If the drugwar is not political why has it been three years and Rush Limbaugh still has not been charged and still makes $3 million a year? My personal opinion: he made more sense the years he was on drugs. Acting District Attorney Gary Miles is just a victim of the 'new and improved drugwar'. Mr. Miles is pure collateral damage to the DEA. Your concerns should go to Congressman John McHugh. If Dr. Latimer wanted to be a drug supplier to Northern New York why only a few patients? He could have had 3,000 dealers working for him! Dr. Latimer was labeled wrong by the media and unfortunately by some of his peers. It's not a war on illegal drugs anymore it's a drug war. It's a war on all of us now! Larry Seguin Lisbon - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin