HEADLINE CREATED WORRIES

Your headline (Oct. 3) "Methadone deaths tied to OxyContin" is misleading
and alarming to thousands of Florida residents who take OxyContin to
control their persistent pain.

It implies that a story about drug abuse is not fit to print unless it
blames the problem on OxyContin. The problem of drug abuse, as the story
shows, is not drugs, but their abuse.

The article accurately reports that some physicians in Florida, prompted by
the widespread news coverage of the abuse of OxyContin, are switching
patients with pain from OxyContin to methadone.

More drug abusers are now also abusing methadone, which has caused a number
of overdose deaths in the state. To link these tragic deaths to OxyContin,
however, is unfair.

As a pain physician, I know that methadone is an effective analgesic.
However, it is not easy to use. It requires very careful dosing and
monitoring to ensure patient benefit and safety.

I am concerned that patients who are benefiting from medications like
OxyContin are being switched to methadone for reasons unrelated to medical
need. Sensational news coverage is influencing medical practice and putting
patients at risk.

Fortunately, the medical community, law enforcement and the pharmaceutical
industry are each taking steps to curb diversion and abuse of prescription
drugs in Florida.

The media can do its part by responsibly reporting balanced, objective
facts, without sensational headlines.

J. David Haddox, DDS, MD is senior medical director, health policy, Purdue
Pharma L.P.,