VIRGINIA DOCTOR SPREADS WORD OF CAMPAIGN TO BAN OXYCONTIN

GILBERT, W.Va. (AP) _ A Virginia doctor is encouraging West
Virginians to get involved in a national petition drive to ban the
production and sale of the prescription drug OxyContin.

Dr. Art Van Zee, a family practitioner from St. Charles, Va., told a
crowd in Gilbert Wednesday night that signing the petition can help
bring about an immediate solution to the region's OxyContin addiction
problem.

Gilbert police have blamed OxyContin for at least four deaths in town.

``I've been convinced that this is the important thing to do. I doubt
that very little else, short of that, will be effective in putting a
large dent in our prescription drug problem,'' Van Zee said.

OxyContin is a powerful synthetic morphine used to treat severe pain.
However, abusers have found that they can attain a powerful euphoria
by crushing and snorting the pills or by injecting them.

West Virginia is one of several states where OxyContin lawsuits have
been filed. The drug has been linked to more than 120 overdose deaths
nationwide.

``Until OxyContin is taken off the market and reformulated with a
smaller abuse potential, I don't think we can solve our problem.''
Van Zee said. ``There is a pharmaceutical and chemical way to
manipulate the drug to be less addictive. It may take time and
research, but, until then, I believe the drug should be off the
market,''

Stamford, Conn.-based Purdue Pharma manufactures OxyContin.

Purdue spokesman James Heins has said the company's goal is to
develop a version of OxyContin that is resistant to drug abuse. Heins
also has said Purdue offers a tamper-proof prescription pad in parts
of the country.

Van Zee said he started his fight over OxyContin after being called
to the emergency room to treat a 21-year-old girl who had overdosed
on the drug.

``I went into the emergency room and I began treating this young
girl. As I did, I realized I knew her. I had given her vaccinations
as a baby and held her in my arms. I knew her parents. I wondered
what was happening in the community. There were many more after
her,'' he said.

The petition can be signed over the Internet.

On the Net:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/oxyrecal/petiton.html

http://www.recalloxycontinnow.org/