Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 Source: Northern Daily News (CN ON) Copyright: 2009, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.northernnews.ca/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx Website: http://www.northernnews.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2315 Author: Rick Owen KL IS A SUCCESS STORY IN FIGHTING DRUGS, MP SAYS KIRKLAND LAKE -Timmins- James MP Charlie Angus wants to set the record straight about his recent comments concerning the use of prescription drugs. Angus said the two youngsters that died from the misuse of prescription drugs were from the Timmins area and the five people that had died from misuse of prescription drugs came from a letter of support that was given the Kirkland Lake group that set up the Kirkland Lake OxyContin Task force. The reason Angus brought up Kirkland Lake while speaking in Timmins about the misuse of prescription drugs is because Kirkland Lake is a success story in terms of taking action to tackle this problem. The prescription drug problem is not just limited to one area of the riding and Angus said because of the success in Kirkland Lake he took the Kirkland Lake model to Timmins. In Kirkland Lake there is the Kirkland Lake Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition, which has set up the Kirkland Lake OxyContin Task Force. These two groups consist of concerned residents, as well as a number of health care professionals, school representatives, and representatives from other community groups. Angus is also concerned about people who are seeking health care for legitimate health care reasons and being prescribed Oxy-Contin without getting a full explanation about the potential for becoming addicted to the drug. The MP said the problem is not just OxyContin, it also includes drugs such a percosets and other painkillers. Angus said he does not want to sensationalize this issue and he was going on the numbers he had. "When we start having successes that is part of public awareness too and we want to play our little piece in this puzzle too." - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart