DRUGMAKER'S PLOY

I read with interest the Associated Press article regarding the offer
Perdue Pharma is making to Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia and Maine.
First, this is obviously a public relations effort on the part of Perdue
Pharma to try to get the public to think that they care about the damage to
untold numbers of individuals and families caused by their chief
moneymaker, OxyContin.

Second, to think that $100,000 would be any more than a drop in the bucket
to begin even to train 20 teachers much less start to figure out how to
address the problems as the result of OxyContin.

Third, this is a further effort on the part of Perdue Pharma to make
everyone except themselves responsible for the problems wrought by their
drug OxyContin. They blame bad doctors, bad people who would abuse the
drug, the environment, and now, the economy.

I am sure the public would be interested in the very aggressive advertising
Perdue Pharma unleashed on the public and in particular, on the physicians
to convince them to prescribe OxyContin.

When will Perdue Pharma accept the responsibility for the massive damage
they have done in Appalachia? At least, don't insult us by throwing pennies
when billions are needed.

The coal barons took our coal and timber and only left our men's bodies
broken and our land polluted. Perdue Pharma has done something worse with
all the problems resulting from their OxyContin.

Sue Ella Kobak, P.C.
Attorney at Law
Dryden, Va.