PAIN DRUG UNLEASHES EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY

Some At A Senate Panel In Orlando Told Of Losing Loved Ones To Oxycontin;
Others Stressed Its Value.

Opposing sides clashed Monday in an emotionally charged hearing called
by state senators looking into problems of overprescribing of
OxyContin and other drugs.

About a dozen of the 40 people attending the hearing at the Orlando
Public Library expressed their concerns to a three-member Senate
panel. Several were parents whose sons died from overdoses, while
others were patients who depend on painkillers to get through the day.

"Most of us who have lost loved ones to OxyContin know that our loved
ones were not the stereotypical drug addicts," said Sandra Bell of
Pensacola. "My son was not like that."

Bell's son Joey Whiting, 30, died in 1999. He became addicted to
OxyContin that he was prescribed for a shoulder injury he suffered at
the grocery store where he worked, Bell said.

But pain patients told the senators they feared negative publicity
about OxyContin abuse, addiction and overdose could affect their
ability to get pain medication.

"Please be aware valid pain patients such as myself have great
concern," said Fred Brown, who said he has used OxyContin and other
therapies to treat pain caused by failed back surgeries.

Brown and a physician were among those who said they worried that a
proposed prescription-tracking system aimed at curbing abuse was
unnecessary and would have a chilling effect on doctors who prescribe
powerful painkillers.

"I don't think the database is the way to go," said Dr. Paul Sovran,
of Kissimmee. He suggested removing OxyContin from a state-approved
list of Medicaid drugs.

Dennis Pence of Kissimmee, who used a cane to reach the microphone,
said he thought OxyContin should be banned because it is so powerful.
Pence, said he was prescribed OxyContin after back surgery.

"I had breathing problems with it," said the 43-year-old Pence, who
said he took the drug for about a week. He said he stopped when he had
trouble breathing at night when he tried to sleep.

Joe Levy of Apopka said he took 240 milligrams of OxyContin for three
months and did not get addicted.

"I don't know how I would have survived without it," he said. "Please
don't intimidate the doctors, to a certain point, from prescribing
OxyContin and make people suffer needlessly."

Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, responded that his panel was interested
only in curbing illegal use, not restricting the drug for legitimate
patients.

In December, Saunders called for the monthlong series of meetings
after reports of overprescribing and high Medicaid costs were featured
in the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Sen. Dave
Aronberg, D-Greenacres, and Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, also
serve on the panel.

Fred Pauzar, head of a Winter Park architecture firm, said his son
Christopher, 22, died from OxyContin overdose in November. He called
on lawmakers to make changes to save lives and to make sure that fraud
does not rob Medicaid money intended for legitimate patients.

Florida Medicaid prescriptions this fiscal year are projected to cost
$2.3 billion. State officials estimate about 10 percent of those costs
are fraudulent. State drug officials said a prescription-tracking
system would catch many of those problems and cut overdose deaths in
half.

Saunders said his panel next week will start crafting legislation to
address the problems, including those discussed at Monday's hearing.

One counselor said new laws could help prevent future problems. "When
OxyContin goes away, there will be another drug," said Ralph Morris, a
Volusia County drug counselor. "This is going to keep on occurring
until we put a safeguard into the system that allows patients to
really understand what they are getting prescribed."

The hearings will be broadcast today at 7 p.m. on Orange County
government's Orange TV.

[Sidebar]

PRESCRIPTION-DRUG HEARINGS

Florida Senate health committee
When: Monday's hearing will be broadcast at 7 p.m. today on Orange Cable
TV-Channel 9.

Congressional OxyContin hearing
When: 10 a.m. Feb. 9
Where: Winter Park City Chambers, 401 S. Park Ave.
What: Congressional hearing to examine OxyContin abuse. The public can
attend. Testimony will be limited to speakers chosen ahead of time.

SOURCES: Florida Senate Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care;
Office of U.S. Rep. John Mica.