LET DRUG MAKERS PAY

To the Editor:

Re "Few States Track Prescriptions as Way to Prevent Overdoses"
(front page, Dec. 21):

The growing problem of misuse of and dependence on OxyContin must be
directly confronted. Corporate entities must be held accountable for
the problems they cause. The costs of health care and loss of
productivity are currently borne by the victim, family, workplace,
health facilities, police and courts. The least the drug industry and
marketplace can do is to help remediate the adverse effects of their
products.

Vouchers for drug dependence treatment programs would be a logical
place to begin. If legislation is passed to enable recovery of
medical and legal expenses from the drug producers, they would adopt
more prudent marketing and sales policies.

TOD H. MIKURIYA, M.D.
Berkeley, Calif., Dec. 21, 2001