OXYCONTIN IS NOT 'SYNTHETIC MORPHINE'

Your initial article on OxyContin identified the prescription painkiller as
a "synthetic morphine," which is erroneous and misleading. The same company
does make a morphine-based painkiller, MSContin.

OxyContin is nothing more than a time-released version of the drug
oxycodone, which is the same base as other prescription drugs including
Tylox and Percodan. The difference is that OxyContin is sporadically
time-released over an average of eight hours to provide continuous relief;
this is why abusers often crush the pills before use.

N.H. Jordan

Statesville