SENATOR INTRODUCES BILL TO BAN MAIN INGREDIENT USED IN OXYCONTIN

Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin introduced a bill that would ban
oxycodone, the main ingredient in OxyContin, because he says, "We have to
protect our citizens and children if we can."

The bill, introduced Monday, the last day for senators to propose
legislation this session, puts oxycodone on a list of drugs that are
considered to have no medical value, such as heroin.

A representative of Purdue Pharma, the Connecticut-based manufacturer of
OxyContin, said the bill came as a surprise to the company.

Alan Must, senior national director of state government and legislative
affairs for Purdue Pharma, declined to make a further statement this
morning, saying the company needs time to learn more about the bill.

Southern West Virginia has been especially hard hit by abuse of the
OxyContin, a prescription that gives a time-released dose of oxycodone. The
drug is meant to be prescribed to those with acute or chronic pain.

But, in many parts of the state, especially in Chafin's area of southern
West Virginia, the drug is being abused. Users crush up the tablet to
overcome the time-release mechanism.

OxyContin has been credited with an increase of crime in some areas as
users steal to afford their addiction.

Chafin said OxyContin has already cost the state too much, in terms of
prescriptions and broken homes.

"There are lots of other things that aren't addicting," said Chafin, D-Mingo.

Chafin said he doesn't introduce a lot of bills and thinks that this one
has a good chance of being passed.

He said he'd like to have a public hearing and hear the other side of the
debate.