OXY

The issue: The prescription pain-killer OxyContin has been abused and
misused. Perdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription pain-killer OxyContin,
has launched a campaign warning teens against the abuse of all prescription
drugs.

The campaign's message is blunt. There's no sugar-coating when it comes to
warning teens about the effects of drug abuse.

It appears to be a responsible approach by the company. But at the same time
company officials are promoting the campaign, government officials in
Washington are lashing out at Perdue Pharma, claiming it is partly
responsible for the widespread and growing abuse of OxyContin, which has
been blamed for 117 deaths in 31 states in the past two years.

During a House subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Asa Hutchinson, head of the
Drug Enforcement Administration, said Perdue Pharma gave its sales
representatives incentives to sell large quantities of the drug and took
doctors on expense-paid retreats to encourage them to prescribe the drug.

The company denied engaging in improper marketing practices.

The abuse and misuse of OxyContin have overshadowed the benefits of the drug
to those with severe and chronic pain. It's time all sides work together in
a responsible way to control this deadly problem.