BAN OF PAINKILLER WILL HURT SUFFERERS

Editor:

I would like to say that if Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin's bill
banning oxycodone passes, many legitimate chronic pain patients, cancer
patients and others suffering severe pain would be denied proper treatment.

Oxycodone is in other medications besides OxyContin. Tylox, Percocet,
Percodan and others contain oxycodone. If this bill passes, all of these
would be banned along with OxyContin.

Some people will abuse anything. Look at alcohol. It has been abused ever
since it came along. Prohibition did not work.

If all drugs containing oxycodone are banned, this will only drive up the
street price of these drugs and increase crime.

Why should those who really need this medicine to be able to function have
to suffer because of drug addicts and ignorance? Chafin, D-Mingo, had
better hope and pray that he never gets cancer nor suffers chronic
intractable pain.

Mary Reynolds,
Dunbar