Coalition Urges Caution in Making OxyContin Easier To Obtain

Washington, DC —  Citing today's alarming GAO Report on the safety risks of internet pharmacies, the Coalition to Assist Victims of OxyContin is urging lawmakers to be cautious while developing legislation to regulate them. Pointing out the high risks of accidental addiction or overdose associated with OxyContin, the Coalition argued that lawmakers should be tightening controls on drugs, particularly those with a greater risk for abuse. The Coalition suggested that higher standards for Schedule II drugs or those with a high propensity for abuse and addiction like OxyContin would be both prudent and appropriate.

The report cited concerns about user's ability to obtain many drugs without a valid prescription, the authenticity and efficacy of imported drugs, and the lack of supervision provided for many dangerous drugs.

These findings are troubling, particularly as they relate to OxyContin, a highly addictive drug that has ruined or ended the lives of thousands of Americans. The GAO found that OxyContin was being distributed with no warning labels or instructions for use despite the fact that Purdue Pharma, the drug's manufacturer, had to change OxyContin's label several years ago to include stronger warnings about addiction and other side effects. Because of its addiction potential, OxyContin should always be taken under a doctor's close supervision.

The report also noted that OxyContin obtained via the internet came shipped in a plastic CD jewel box wrapped in brown packing tape, raising questions about both the efficacy and authenticity of OxyContin obtained via the internet. OxyContin contains extremely high levels of opiates that can hasten addiction or cause respiratory failure and death if improperly manufactured or consumed.

These shortcomings, in addition to adding to the casualty list of dead or addicted victims, could potentially add billions in costs to the health care system. Oxycontin-related emergency room mentions have risen from 100 in 1996 when the drug first appeared on the market to almost 15,000 last year. Hundreds of Americans in every state have taken OxyContin with fatal consequences. The drug is known to have killed 59 Kentuckians, according to The Louisville Courier-Journal and has been linked to 200 deaths in Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that 57 North Carolina residents died from OxyContin in the last three years. Rehab centers report that admissions for OxyContin addiction have skyrocketed as much as 700% in some localities.

While the Coalition applauds efforts to make obtaining prescription drugs more convenient and affordable for Americans, lawmakers should proceed carefully. More OxyContin on the street from more and less reliable sources may temporarily relieve short term pricing issues, but it will exact a huge cost on Americans who are harmed by this highly addictive and potentially dangerous drug.