TARGETS OXYCONTIN ABUSE

Senate Bill 636, sponsored by state Sen. Locke Burt, represents a proactive
approach to dealing with the current epidemic of powerfully psychoactive
prescription medications that are being diverted from appropriate to
illicit use. As president of Stewart-Marchman Center, I ask the community
to strongly support this legislation. We who work in addiction treatment
programs are most concerned about the dramatic increase in the illicit
availability and abuse of the prescription drug OxyContin along with other
prescription painkillers, most frequently Percodan and Percocet.

These drugs work their way to the street most often through "doctor
shopping." This involves individuals who may or may not have a legitimate
need for the drug and who visit numerous doctors in the hope of obtaining
large amounts of the drug to abuse or to sell. The Florida Department of
Law Enforcement reports that state Medicaid spending on OxyContin alone
rose from $4.4 million in 1998 to more than $21 million in 2000. Some
people who are legitimately prescribed the drug become tempted to sell
their prescriptions because OxyContin sells on the street for five to 10
times its prescription price. To address this epidemic we need to prevent
illicit sales of the drug. Sen. Burt's bill would assist in this regard.

In the first six months of 2001 OxyContin killed more drug abusers in
Florida than either heroin or cocaine. Beyond its potential for
precipitating sudden death, the powerful addiction developed in OxyContin
abusers is both difficult to treat and leads the addicted person into
criminal behaviors including doctor shopping, pharmacy robberies and
burglaries.

The Florida Medical Association and the Volusia Medical Association are on
record opposing certain sections of the legislation, but we urge continued
communication to work out the areas of disagreement.

In recent years our state has made significant progress in preventing the
initiation of drug use by our children and providing treatment for those
who, despite our prevention efforts, become addicted to alcohol and other
drugs. I urge all who want to see drug abuse continue to be reduced in our
state to let their representatives and senators know that they support SB 636.

DR. ERNEST CANTLEY,
Palm Coast