SERIES MASKS THE TRUE NATURE OF DRUG ABUSE

The Observer's series on abuse of OxyContin tablets that characterizes this
FDA-approved prescription medication as a "scourge" is a disservice to the
millions of patients who live in pain every day and the health-care
professionals dedicated to alleviating their suffering.

These articles do illustrate the devastating effects of drug abuse and
addiction. However, focusing solely on the abuse of one medication, when
many other drugs are abused in greater numbers, masks the true dimension
and nature of the drug abuse problem in the Carolinas.

As a schedule II narcotic, OxyContin is in the most tightly controlled
class of prescription medications in the country. Any opioid pain
medication has the potential to be abused and can be a target of criminal
drug traffickers. When used as directed under the care of a physician,
these medications can provide much needed relief to people living with
persistent, debilitating pain.

Putting the abuse of OxyContin into perspective, a source from the
Management Information Research unit of the South Carolina Department of
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services stated that for the fiscal year just
ended in June, of 55,474 persons presenting for substance abuse treatment,
only 239 identified OxyContin as their primary, but not necessarily only,
drug of choice. Thus, less than one-half of one percent of the cases in
South Carolina involved OxyContin as the primary reason for treatment.
While we understand that similar data for North Carolina are not available,
we would expect a similar trend.

While it is certainly appropriate for The Observer to inform the public
about the dangers of abusing medications, calling a pain medication "the
heroin of the 2000s" is likely to prevent physicians from prescribing
appropriately and patients from receiving the benefits of effective treatments.

The Observer's articles largely ignore the unprecedented steps my company
has taken to fight prescription drug abuse in the Carolinas and elsewhere.

Company officials have had a number of meetings with state and local
regulatory and law enforcement officials in both North and South Carolina
to share information and cooperate on prevention efforts. We have sponsored
numerous non-promotional education programs to teach healthcare
professionals how to properly treat pain while reducing abuse and
diversion. Purdue Pharma has also developed a prescription drug abuse
awareness program to warn teens and parents about the dangers of abusing
prescription medicines.

The company is working to develop abuse-resistant medications that will
deter abusers while still providing pain relief to patients. We offer
physicians free tamper-resistant prescription pads designed to help prevent
prescription fraud and forgery.

We are supporting the implementation of well-designed state prescription
monitoring programs to help identify and stop "doctor shopping" without
compromising patient care and privacy. We are developing a national
surveillance system to study abuse and diversion of controlled prescription
medications so that more effective intervention efforts can be developed
and implemented. We have taken steps to help law enforcement stop smuggling
of the product into the United States from Mexico and Canada.

The Observer repeats allegations that Purdue Pharma over-promoted the
benefits of OxyContin while not adequately disclosing potential risks.
These allegations are untrue. Purdue's marketing efforts to physicians are
conservative by any standard of pharmaceutical marketing and are regulated
by the Food and Drug Administration. Our promotional materials have always
been accompanied by prescribing information for physicians that clearly
discloses warnings about potential side effects and the risk of diversion,
abuse and addiction. Our sales representatives are rigorously trained to
educate prescribers on the proper use of the medication.

By partnering with leading experts in the fields of pain medicine,
addiction and law enforcement, and investing hundreds of millions of
dollars on research, prevention and education efforts, Purdue Pharma is
doing more than any other pharmaceutical company to combat the illegal
trafficking and abuse of prescription drugs.

We will continue our efforts to ensure these medicines remain accessible to
responsible prescribers and patients with pain, while working to help keep
them out of the hands of abusers and criminals.

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J. David Haddox, D.D.S., M.D., is senior medical director, health policy,
for Purdue Pharma L.P. Full prescribing information for OxyContin
Registered can be found at www.purduepharma.com.
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