A WELCOME LOCAL STRATEGY IN THE OXYCONTIN CRISIS

Carilion deserves praise for expanding help to residents who became
addicted after misusing the prescription painkiller.

TWO YEARS ago, before the abuse of OxyContin became a public-health crisis,
Carilion Health Systems gave the prescription painkiller little thought.

That was before the health-care provider's 24-hour hotline began fielding
calls daily from people struggling with OxyContin addiction. Now, with at
least 35 dead and others addicted in several Southwest Virginia
communities, Carilion is responding with a progressive plan to expand help
for addicts.

Carilion's welcome strategy includes a two-step approach that involves
hospitalization and outpatient psychological care. Other initiatives
include expanded methadone services for detoxification and additional
Narcotics Anonymous meetings at the St. Albans Hospital near Radford.

Unfortunately, that facility has seen the devastation of OxyContin abuse
with increasing frequency. One-third of outpatients seen daily at the
facility are trying to kick an OxyContin habit.

At both St. Albans and Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Carilion also
intends to offer auricular acupuncture. Additionally, personnel at both
hospitals will begin verifying all incoming patients' OxyContin
prescriptions with their doctors, as well as prescriptions for similar
drugs. A sad truth is that if prescription medications can be misused, they
will be.

To develop its new strategy, Carilion wisely questioned about 80 doctors
and 15 hospitals, about half of them out of state. Nearly 40 percent of the
physicians agreed that the region needs more outlets for substance-abuse
help. Carilion has shown commitment to the community by stepping up.

The plan comes as OxyContin's manufacturer has announced a series of steps
to curb abuse, including a new version of the drug that would be resistant
to abuse.

As a dominant presence in health care in the region, Carilion is providing
leadership in addressing the addiction that has tragically consumed the
lives of too many Southwest Virginians.