WRONG APPROACH ON OXYCONTIN

RECENTLY, my mother passed away after a battle with a very aggressive
and painful form of cancer. Her pain was eased in her final days by
the drug OxyContin. This drug enabled her to be awake and lucid
enough to share final wishes and feelings with her family. She died
with the same grace and dignity she lived her life with.

My mother's hospice nurse carefully monitored her medications and
then disposed of them after her death. Somewhere, others are being
less careful with this drug, and state Senator Steven A. Tolman has
seen the need to file legislation to ban OxyContin in Massachusetts
("The OxyContin epidemic," op ed, June 30).

My questions are: Why are we not cracking down on where the abuses
are happening? Who is prescribing the drugs that are being consumed
in this epidemic? Why are they not being prosecuted under current
laws? And wouldn't people still be able to get OxyContin from states
bordering Massachusetts?

Tolman says: "I believe we have a responsibility to the children,
families, and communities of the Commonwealth to protect them from harm."

Yes, Senator, we do, but our family feels you are focusing your
energies in the wrong place.

MARY BARTON-LECH

Belmont