SEEK OUT ABUSERS INSTEAD OF BANNING MEDICATION

I was glad to see the West Virginia Legislature put aside for further study
a bill that, if adopted, would have banned oxycodone. Instead of punishing
people who are in need of this medication, they should pursue those who
abuse it. If they ban the drug, people who need it will get it from other
states and then they will be the criminals. There are plenty of laws on the
books to keep this drug out of the hands of criminals.

I feel that the news media have done this drug an injustice by hyping up
the stories about its misuse. If the media spent as much TV time and
newspaper space praising law enforcement for the good job that they do, it
would be time and space better spent.

If the Legislature wants to investigate a drug that is responsible for
making millions sick and forcing families into starvation, it should think
about banning alcohol. And if the Legislature really wants to help, why not
put a tax on alcoholic beverages to pay for health insurance? The Public
Employees Insurance Agency is always short of money.

Ronald Thacker

Huntington