OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS DRUG BLAMED FOR DEATHS

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 27 (AP) -- Law enforcement officials from eight
Eastern states will meet in Richmond on Thursday to discuss ways to
stem the abuse of OxyContin, a powerful synthetic morphine blamed for
dozens of deaths.

The meeting was called by Attorney General Mark Earley of Virginia,
where at least 32 deaths have been attributed to the prescription
painkiller in the last four years. At least 59 overdose deaths have
been reported in Kentucky in the last year.

Several states, including Virginia, said they had seen a crime surge
as addicts robbed to get the drug. On Monday, a federal grand jury
indicted five people from Virginia and one from Ohio on charges of
running an illegal OxyContin ring.

Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia
and West Virginia are sending representatives to the meeting.

OxyContin, made by Purdue Pharma of Norwalk, Conn., was approved by
the Food and Drug Administration in 1996. A company official plans to
speak at the meeting.