Big Pharma and Oxycontin abuse

From an article by Steve Hayes of Novus Medical Detox Centre in Florida http://www.novusdetox.com/faq.php
They do wonderful work with addicts of all sorts and press the government whenever possible to get dangerous drugs off the market---

We know this about Big Pharma:

* They have a philosophy that they make very clear-"if you want to receive our money then you better not do anything that interferes with our making money".

* They spend millions of dollars a year trying to ensure that their legislative agenda is protected.

* In this year alone, lobbying records show that they have contributed over $7.5 million to Members of Congress.

* They don't care how many are killed or injured as long as they make profits.


HOW OXYCONTIN IS ABUSED

OxyContin is oxycodone, legal heroin, that is coated and, if swallowed whole, will release the oxycodone over a six to ten hour period. However, if it is chewed or crushed, then all of the oxycodone is immediately available.

Many of our patients who come to Novus Medical Detox Center to withdraw from heroin started their path to addiction by taking OxyContin and switched to heroin because it was cheaper and the same type of high.

WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM A CRIMINAL COMPANY

Since OxyContin's release, Purdue has known:

* OxyContin could easily be converted to oxycodone.

* OxyContin was being abused and was causing addictions and deaths.

* OxyContin was largely responsible for creating a new opium epidemic.

* OxyContin being abused just meant more OxyContin sales.

* OxyContin sales, even if to addicts, just meant more profits.


LATEST OXYCONTIN SCAM FROM PURDUE PHARMA

Purdue is surprised, but people are actually starting to get upset about the abuse of OxyContin. Purdue has proposed to the FDA a new formulation that they say is not as easy to abuse.

Typical of Purdue, they "neglected" to see what would happen if you simply put their new OxyContin on a cookie sheet and baked it in the oven for a time. Would it become easily abused oxycodone?

When confronted at the FDA hearing with this allegation by Larry Golbom of Prescription Addiction Radio, Purdue was forced to notify the FDA that they had "forgotten" to test this way of defeating their new formulation.

CONGRESSWOMAN MARY BONO MACK

In 1998, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack was first elected to serve the people of California's 45th District through a special election held to fill the seat left vacant by her late husband, Congressman Sonny Bono. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack is now married to U.S. Congressman Connie Mack.

ACT OF COURAGE

Congresswoman Bono Mack has seen the growing problem of prescription drug abuse and addiction among Americans young and old and has been vitally interested in how she can help. She signed the Ban OxyContin petition.