News (Media Awareness Project) - US VA: Editorial: Trying To Improve A Drug Linked To Deaths |
| Title: | US VA: Editorial: Trying To Improve A Drug Linked To Deaths |
| Published On: | 2001-08-14 |
| Source: | Virginian-Pilot (VA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-31 21:37:50 |
TRYING TO IMPROVE A DRUG LINKED TO DEATHS, ABUSE
Facing increasing pressure to do something about its powerful drug,
OxyContin, the Connecticut manufacturer is now taking steps to produce a
"smart pill" -- one that would be tougher to abuse. This is a welcome move
by Purdue Pharma LP, which is facing heat from several quarters to help
crack down on the drug's misuse.
So far, officials link at least 100 deaths across the country to OxyContin.
The state of West Virginia has sued Purdue Pharma, saying that the company
pressured and enticed doctors to over-prescribe the drug.
The drug is a slow-release narcotic painkiller. According to the Food and
Drug Administration, OxyContin is intended to help relieve moderate to
severe pain and chronic pain.
Longtime nurses say the drug can bring strong relief to patients. In
comments to the FDA, an Iowa nurse noted: "OxyContin is one of only a few
controlled release products on the market, and restricting use of any of
these products would be of severe consequence to multiple patients."
To a greater degree than with many other drugs, though, there is a
potential for misuse. One pill is intended to last 12 hours, but abusers
will crush the pill and then snort or inject it; that causes a quick,
heroin-like high.
The government recently said OxyContin will bear the FDA's strongest type
of warning: a black box calling the drug as potentially addictive as
morphine and explaining that chewing, snorting or injecting it can kill.
So Purdue Pharma is trying to develop a "smart pill" that would destroy its
narcotic ingredients if crushed into a powder. The pill, however, would not
be available for at least three years.
The manufacturer is taking a smart step. Others need to be taken, though,
because the public can't wait three years for a solution. There should be
intensive monitoring of who gets the drug. Also, OxyContin should be
prescribed as a drug of last resort.
If the abuse continues in large numbers, Purdue Pharma should seriously
consider pulling the drug from the marketplace.
Facing increasing pressure to do something about its powerful drug,
OxyContin, the Connecticut manufacturer is now taking steps to produce a
"smart pill" -- one that would be tougher to abuse. This is a welcome move
by Purdue Pharma LP, which is facing heat from several quarters to help
crack down on the drug's misuse.
So far, officials link at least 100 deaths across the country to OxyContin.
The state of West Virginia has sued Purdue Pharma, saying that the company
pressured and enticed doctors to over-prescribe the drug.
The drug is a slow-release narcotic painkiller. According to the Food and
Drug Administration, OxyContin is intended to help relieve moderate to
severe pain and chronic pain.
Longtime nurses say the drug can bring strong relief to patients. In
comments to the FDA, an Iowa nurse noted: "OxyContin is one of only a few
controlled release products on the market, and restricting use of any of
these products would be of severe consequence to multiple patients."
To a greater degree than with many other drugs, though, there is a
potential for misuse. One pill is intended to last 12 hours, but abusers
will crush the pill and then snort or inject it; that causes a quick,
heroin-like high.
The government recently said OxyContin will bear the FDA's strongest type
of warning: a black box calling the drug as potentially addictive as
morphine and explaining that chewing, snorting or injecting it can kill.
So Purdue Pharma is trying to develop a "smart pill" that would destroy its
narcotic ingredients if crushed into a powder. The pill, however, would not
be available for at least three years.
The manufacturer is taking a smart step. Others need to be taken, though,
because the public can't wait three years for a solution. There should be
intensive monitoring of who gets the drug. Also, OxyContin should be
prescribed as a drug of last resort.
If the abuse continues in large numbers, Purdue Pharma should seriously
consider pulling the drug from the marketplace.
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
