MTVNEWS FIGHTING DRUG ABUSE

Thursday night, the MTVNews Special on OxyContin abuse will air at 10 p.m.
on MTV.

MTVNews crews and producers worked many days and nights in the Mingo County
town of Gilbert, filming people affected by OxyContin abuse and those
trapped by addiction to the pain killer.

OxyContin, a very strong and very addictive pain killer, has been on the
market for the past couple of years and is only supposed to be prescribed
by doctors to people in dire need of relief from chronic pain. But, in this
area, as well as many other areas of the country, the miracle drug is being
abused. At least one area doctor has been arrested for abusing his ability
to supply his patients with OxyContin prescriptions.

Only through the joint efforts of local law enforcement, groups such as the
Gilbert-area Drug Coalition and people in the communities can the abuse
come to an end.

The Gilbert-area Drug Coalition has been waging a war on drug abuse for the
past year. The attention the small group has brought to the southern West
Virginia drug problem has helped to shine a light on a very dark problem.

The MTVNews special will further enlighten people of the terrible price
most addicts have to pay, especially those addicted to OxyContin.
Hopefully, people will sit up and take notice that drug abuse leads to pain
and suffering and many times, death.

We applaud MTVNews and the Gilbert-area Drug Coalition for their efforts to
help educate the people of the coalfield region and for their concern for
our people's lives.