OXYCONTIN SOLUTION INCLUDES TREATMENT

It's good to hear that a two-day symposium this week that focused heavily
on the legal and social effects of OxyContin abuse probably won't be the
last. And it's equally good to hear that the next one, if it's held, will
deal with treating and rehabilitating those already addicted.

Certainly it's imperative to find ways of stemming the "epidemic" of
OxyContin addiction, as it's being called. The narcotic painkiller,
intended for those suffering severe, chronic pain, has been blamed for more
than two dozen deaths in the region, a wave of drug-related crime and
untold human suffering among those who abuse it. But it's no less important
to find ways of helping those who have already fallen prey to OxyContin and
other drugs.

Whether you believe the problem lies with the powerful painkiller itself or
with the people who use it, there must be ways to help them overcome the
addiction. And until they've done so, the suffering won't be over for them
or for others.