Congress Tackles Oxycontin

Orlando Sentinel ^ | Dec. 5, 2003

[Wolfie]

CONGRESS TACKLES OXYCONTIN

A congressional panel announced Thursday that it will begin hearings in February to investigate the growing national epidemic of OxyContin addiction, abuse and overdoses.

The first hearing will take place in Orlando.

"Just the sheer number of problems related with the drug and the number of deaths have reached epidemic proportions," said Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, who cited a five-part October series on the painkiller in the Orlando Sentinel in making his request for the hearings.

Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., chairman of the House Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources subcommittee, said the first hearing would be Feb. 9.

"The problem of illegal prescription-drug abuse is a serious one, and one which the subcommittee that I chair will be examining closely in the next session of Congress," Souder said.

[Wolfie]

Full Article

[Tennessee_Bob]

Sell your stock in Purdue Pharma - they're about to take a serious hit.

[Old Sarge]

The first hearing will take place in Orlando ... the first hearing would be Feb. 9.

Oh, sure. So the convention attendees can bring their families on the public junket to Disney World, and right in time for Spring Break and all that young flesh.

Congress-critters. You can read them like a book.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[nothingnew]

This is going to make it even harder for those of us who suffer chronic pain to get LEGAL painkillers. They better ramp up the WoD, 'cause the dealers are going to make a killing. HA!

FMCDH

[zencat]

As long as the patient is not reselling the medication and/or the physician has not been reported for some type of abuse, Congress and the DEA should NEVER become involved. There are millions who legitimately suffer from pain, and that is the intended purpose of this medication. I don't won't people abusing these substances, but legislatures and law enforcement are overly concerned that someone might actually experience a bit of "pleasure" from these pills.

And why is it that the right to privacy with a doctor only seems to apply when it comes to abortion?

[Wolfie]

Get with the program. People might be getting high. Understand? High. As in feeling better than could otherwise be justified. In the U.S.A., that justifies any extreme.