STATE SHOULD LOSE SUIT AGAINST OXYCONTIN MAKER

I read the recent news article about the state of West Virginia suing
the makers of OxyContin and felt compelled to write. I banned all
local news programming because I was sick of hearing about OxyContin
every night. Now, it is constantly in the newspaper.

The article stated that Purdue Frederick uses "highly coercive and
inappropriate tactics" to market their prescription to doctors and
pharmacists. This is corporate America and how it works.

My daughter was in sales for several years. Her company took customers
to numerous displays all over the country and Canada annually to
promote each manufacturer's products. And yes, her company paid. I
don't believe this is illegal. Also, did Purdue illegally coerce the
physicians into going? I doubt it. I'm sure they enjoyed the time off.

Also, the article said that physicians were told that OxyContin was a
"safe and effective way" to treat variations of pain. Isn't that true?
When prescribed correctly, in the appropriately dosage, and taken
correctly, I bet OxyContin is the best pain reliever on the market.

The problem doesn't lie with the legitimate people taking the
prescription. It lies with all of the drug dealers who travel out of
the country to retrieve it and bring it back to West Virginia. We
obviously have a drug problem, not an OxyContin problem.

More importantly, let's keep our eyes on the real problem. Instead of
suing Purdue, why not spend that money more effectively and study why
the people living in this area become so dependent on various
substances -- whether it's prescription drugs, street drugs, tobacco
or food. Let's look at obesity in West Virginia. I'm sure it kills
more and costs the state more than OxyContin.

Also, why not sue everyone else who causes harm to our area?
Statistics show that one person every 15 minutes is killed by a
drunken driver. Why are we not suing alcohol manufacturers? Or, for
that matter, every other manufacturer of prescription drugs sold on
the street?

There are many retired coal miners living in our area suffering from
black lung disease. OxyContin may provide the best relief for these
workers. West Virginia ultimately gave them the disease but now is
trying to take away their medication and put them back in pain. I
guess there are a lot of things I just don't understand.

To close, I have a question for Attorney General Darrell McGraw,
Delegate Don Perdue (who won't get my vote again) and Gov. Bob Wise:
Are you so small-minded that you believe if you successfully sue this
company for developing and promoting a remarkable prescription, that
drug abuse in West Virginia will stop?

I believe there are many, many other problems in West Virginia that
need worked on first.

West Virginia is the first state to sue the makers of OxyContin, and I
hope it's the first to lose. Money well spent.