OXYCONTIN ABUSE

To the Editor:

Monitoring prescriptions of OxyContin sounds like a good place to start to
prevent increased abuse ("Few States Track Prescriptions as Way to Prevent
Overdoses," front page, Dec. 21). But we must also increase drug treatment
programs and sponsor broader prevention and education campaigns.

As a treatment provider in New York City, Odyssey House is not yet
admitting abusers of OxyContin in anywhere near the numbers of abusers of
illegal drugs like crack cocaine and heroin. But if this drug is not
sufficiently controlled, that could change fast.

It is up to drug treatment and prevention specialists, doctors, law
enforcement and pharmaceutical companies to work together to ensure that
powerful addictive substances like OxyContin are safely used, not abused.

PETER PROVET
President, Odyssey House
New York, Dec. 22, 2001