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Re: ZERO TO 8 MILLION
Re: ZERO TO 8 MILLION -- Posted by Chip Orange on 09-04-04 10:43
Very depressing isn't it? I don't mean the abusers; I think they'll abuse
something, so just let them go, I mean that articles like this are sure to
help keep us all in a constant state of under treated pain.
"Dr. Jai Maharaj" wrote in message
news:health-0118.20030626@news.mantra.com...
> Zero to 8 million
>
> Painkiller has well-documented history of abuse
>
> By Ty Bowers - Staff Writer
> citizenet.com
>
> The company sold its first cure-all elixir in 1892 for
> those suffering through America's Gilded Age.
>
> Doctors touted Gray's Glycerine Tonic Compound as a
> "sherry-based tonic for numerous ills," according to the
> Purdue Pharma LP corporate Web site.
>
> In the decades since, the drug maker has sold laxatives,
> antibiotics and an ear wax remover - none of them as
> successful as OxyContin.
>
> Hailed as the latest, perhaps greatest remedy for pain in
> medical history, the powerful opiate hit the market in
> 1995.
>
> The drug also has been linked to more than 400 overdose
> deaths nationwide, according to law enforcement
> officials.
>
> The widespread abuse of OxyContin has put Purdue Pharma
> at odds with regulators and forced the company to fight
> dozens of legal battles.
>
> Blockbuster sales of the drug have fueled the firestorm.
>
> Purdue Pharma's sales of OxyContin topped $1 billion in
> 2001, according to company officials. U.S. pharmacists
> filled more than 8 million prescriptions for the drug.
>
> For decades, the Connecticut-based company has sought to
> end what its leaders term the "under-treatment of pain,"
> spokeswoman Merle Spiegel said last week.
>
> It has developed drugs to manage pain, be it the constant
> throb of arthritis or the terminal aches of end-stage
> cancer.
>
> Company researchers estimate that more than 50 million
> Americans suffer from some sort of chronic pain, Ms.
> Spiegel explained. "And that's probably a conservative
> estimate."
>
> She disputed claims that Purdue Pharma has marketed
> OxyContin too aggressively for patients in little need of
> it.
>
> The company patented its first strong painkiller in 1984.
> MS-Contin, an oral form of morphine, used a "controlled-
> release" formula to dispense the drug throughout the body
> over a 12-hour period.
>
> By 1987, the company's drug sales exceeded $100 million.
>
> But in OxyContin, Purdue Pharma struck gold.
>
> A nearly pure form of the opiate oxycodone, the drug
> delivers one of the strongest forms of pain relief on the
> market.
>
> The Food and Drug Administration approved OxyContin in
> 1995 for moderate to severe chronic pain lasting for
> three days or more.
>
> Doctors prescribed the drug for nearly 500,000 people in
> 1996, according to the company. Its use has risen 1,500
> percent in the years since.
>
> "It's a good drug for chronic pain," said Dr. Chris
> Holstege, a toxicologist and director of the Blue Ridge
> Poison Control Center at the University of Virginia.
>
> "Unfortunately, it's a preferred drug for opioid
> abusers," Dr. Holstege said.
>
> OxyContin attaches itself to the body's opioid receptors
> along the spinal cord and in the brain. As a result, the
> drug blocks pain signals sent to the brain.
>
> But drug addicts have found a way around OxyContin's
> "controlled-release" mechanism.
>
> By crushing a tablet, then snorting or injecting it,
> users get an "instant shot" of the drug's full dose -
> anywhere from 10 to 80 milligrams of pure oxycodone.
>
> The high mimics the euphoric effects of heroin, Dr.
> Holstege explained.
>
> The first reports of OxyContin's abuse surfaced in 2000
> in rural Maine, according to Purdue spokeswoman Spiegel.
>
> Cases of abuse, theft and crime involving the drug
> quickly became common in "Appalachia" - eastern Kentucky,
> eastern Tennessee, West Virginia and Southwest Virginia.
>
> Since 2000, OxyContin abuse has spread, reaching Florida
> to the south, Arizona to the west and Nova Scotia,
> Canada, to the north.
>
> "It's certainly an issue we see in our practice," Dr.
> Holstege said.
>
> The Blue Ridge Poison Control Center's coverage area
> extends from Southwest Virginia to Winchester, including
> Fauquier. . . .
> [...]
> This is only an excerpt -- read the complete news at:
> http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030626-103330-7721r
>
> Jai Maharaj
> http://www.mantra.com/jai
> Om Shanti
>
> Panchaang for 27 Jyeshtth 5104, Thursday, June 26, 2003:
>
> Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Dakshinaya Nartana Ritau
> Mithun Mase Krishna Pakshe Guru Vasara Yuktayam
> Krittik-Rohini Nakshatr Shool Yog
> Gar-Vanij Karan Trayodashi Yam Tithau
>
> Hindu Holocaust Museum
> http://www.mantra.com/holocaust
>
> Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
> http://www.hindu.org
> http://www.hindunet.org
>
> The truth about Islam and Muslims
> http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate
>
> o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the
> educational purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of
> this post may not have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent
> the opinion of the poster. The contents are protected by copyright law
> and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
> o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
> considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name,
> current e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
> o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others
> are not necessarily those of the poster.
Re: ZERO TO 8 MILLION -- Posted by Timbertea on 09-06-04 06:47
Considering the widespread use of this, and knowing people DO abuse
these things, I think 400 OD's (most of them combined with alcohol,
benzos, other opioids, cocaine, antihistamines, and lord knows what
else...) is pretty remarkable for being low. One must also consider
that many of these are probably suicides as well as that is not uncommon
in the severe chronic pain/serious disease population.
Probably the biggest difference we can make is if you see a story like
this, contact the person who wrote it *(and their boss) and tell them
your story. Ask them why they never run stories about the much more
common uses of this, for people in severe chronic pain. Ask them why
they never have a feature on chronic pain.
I've told one editor that if she ran 300 full front page stories in her
paper decribing the life of chronic pain patients she could not even
begin to balance her papers coverage of this issue. Of course, what can
I expect for Florida? That's the state with the drug czar who openly
states he wants to criminalize doctors for treating pain.
Chip Orange wrote:
> Very depressing isn't it? I don't mean the abusers; I think they'll abuse
> something, so just let them go, I mean that articles like this are sure to
> help keep us all in a constant state of under treated pain.
>
>
>
> "Dr. Jai Maharaj" wrote in message
> news:health-0118.20030626@news.mantra.com...
>
>>Zero to 8 million
>>
>>Painkiller has well-documented history of abuse
>>
>>By Ty Bowers - Staff Writer
>>citizenet.com
>>
>>The company sold its first cure-all elixir in 1892 for
>>those suffering through America's Gilded Age.
>>
>>Doctors touted Gray's Glycerine Tonic Compound as a
>>"sherry-based tonic for numerous ills," according to the
>>Purdue Pharma LP corporate Web site.
>>
>>In the decades since, the drug maker has sold laxatives,
>>antibiotics and an ear wax remover - none of them as
>>successful as OxyContin.
>>
>>Hailed as the latest, perhaps greatest remedy for pain in
>>medical history, the powerful opiate hit the market in
>>1995.
>>
>>The drug also has been linked to more than 400 overdose
>>deaths nationwide, according to law enforcement
>>officials.
>>
>>The widespread abuse of OxyContin has put Purdue Pharma
>>at odds with regulators and forced the company to fight
>>dozens of legal battles.
>>
>>Blockbuster sales of the drug have fueled the firestorm.
>>
>>Purdue Pharma's sales of OxyContin topped $1 billion in
>>2001, according to company officials. U.S. pharmacists
>>filled more than 8 million prescriptions for the drug.
>>
>>For decades, the Connecticut-based company has sought to
>>end what its leaders term the "under-treatment of pain,"
>>spokeswoman Merle Spiegel said last week.
>>
>>It has developed drugs to manage pain, be it the constant
>>throb of arthritis or the terminal aches of end-stage
>>cancer.
>>
>>Company researchers estimate that more than 50 million
>>Americans suffer from some sort of chronic pain, Ms.
>>Spiegel explained. "And that's probably a conservative
>>estimate."
>>
>>She disputed claims that Purdue Pharma has marketed
>>OxyContin too aggressively for patients in little need of
>>it.
>>
>>The company patented its first strong painkiller in 1984.
>>MS-Contin, an oral form of morphine, used a "controlled-
>>release" formula to dispense the drug throughout the body
>>over a 12-hour period.
>>
>>By 1987, the company's drug sales exceeded $100 million.
>>
>>But in OxyContin, Purdue Pharma struck gold.
>>
>>A nearly pure form of the opiate oxycodone, the drug
>>delivers one of the strongest forms of pain relief on the
>>market.
>>
>>The Food and Drug Administration approved OxyContin in
>>1995 for moderate to severe chronic pain lasting for
>>three days or more.
>>
>>Doctors prescribed the drug for nearly 500,000 people in
>>1996, according to the company. Its use has risen 1,500
>>percent in the years since.
>>
>>"It's a good drug for chronic pain," said Dr. Chris
>>Holstege, a toxicologist and director of the Blue Ridge
>>Poison Control Center at the University of Virginia.
>>
>>"Unfortunately, it's a preferred drug for opioid
>>abusers," Dr. Holstege said.
>>
>>OxyContin attaches itself to the body's opioid receptors
>>along the spinal cord and in the brain. As a result, the
>>drug blocks pain signals sent to the brain.
>>
>>But drug addicts have found a way around OxyContin's
>>"controlled-release" mechanism.
>>
>>By crushing a tablet, then snorting or injecting it,
>>users get an "instant shot" of the drug's full dose -
>>anywhere from 10 to 80 milligrams of pure oxycodone.
>>
>>The high mimics the euphoric effects of heroin, Dr.
>>Holstege explained.
>>
>>The first reports of OxyContin's abuse surfaced in 2000
>>in rural Maine, according to Purdue spokeswoman Spiegel.
>>
>>Cases of abuse, theft and crime involving the drug
>>quickly became common in "Appalachia" - eastern Kentucky,
>>eastern Tennessee, West Virginia and Southwest Virginia.
>>
>>Since 2000, OxyContin abuse has spread, reaching Florida
>>to the south, Arizona to the west and Nova Scotia,
>>Canada, to the north.
>>
>>"It's certainly an issue we see in our practice," Dr.
>>Holstege said.
>>
>>The Blue Ridge Poison Control Center's coverage area
>>extends from Southwest Virginia to Winchester, including
>>Fauquier. . . .
>>[...]
>>This is only an excerpt -- read the complete news at:
>>http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030626-103330-7721r
>>
>>Jai Maharaj
>
>
>
Re: ZERO TO 8 MILLION -- Posted by firechief on 09-06-04 15:16
Timbertea wrote:
> Considering the widespread use of this, and knowing people DO
> abuse these things, I think 400 OD's (most of them combined with
> alcohol, benzos, other opioids, cocaine, antihistamines, and lord
> knows what else...) is pretty remarkable for being low. One must
> also consider that many of these are probably suicides as well as
> that is not uncommon in the severe chronic pain/serious disease
> population.
The following excerpts were published Sunday in our local newspaper:
Almost every day in this county someone takes his or her own life.
According to the county medical examiner, 27 people used drugs
to kill themselves last year - down from 48 the previous year.
Between 300 and 350 people committed suicide in this county
in each of the past 3 years. By comparison, a total of 565 people
died from accidental overdoses during that period.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control reported almost
17,000 drug-related fatalities in 2000. Some 30,000 committed
suicide.
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