Merry Christmas Kids from Purdue Pharma, Maker of OxyContin

The maker of OxyContin -- the ones who lied about the addictive and abusive qualities of the drug -- now want to reach out and "help".

Melissa Gilbert once starred in 'Little House on the Prairie' - today she advocates for Purdue Pharma which is the criminally convicted company that manufacturers Oxycontin. Many would call an 'anti-drug' message from a major drug manufacturer an act of hypocrisy.

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - Partnership for a Drug Free America launched an innovative new Website designed to help parents learn options, recommendations, costs and other resources involved in seeking help for their kids and teenagers who are struggling with addiction. The website is called “Time to Get Help”.

Marianne Skolek

Initially one would think the "Time to Get Help" website was very informative and helpful to parents until the sponsorship of the website is named -- Purdue Pharma -- along with an anonymous donor.

So the maker of OxyContin -- the ones who lied about the addictive and abusive qualities of the drug -- now want to reach out and "help" parents keep their young children and teens safe from drug addiction. Many of these same parents have fallen victim to the criminal marketing of OxyContin and have been dealing with drug rehabilitation, incarceration, continued drug addiction -- and death of their children. Can parents trust Purdue Pharma to offer help in keeping their kids safe when the company lacked integrity, ethics, as well as a moral obligation to the general public and pushed OxyContin in a criminal manner?

The spokeswoman for the "Time to Get Help" website is "Little House on the Prairie" actress, Melissa Gilbert. She acknowledges the need for help in the area of addiction of teens and young adults.

“Time To Get Help comes right at the time when you know your child has a problem and you don’t know where to go. You don’t know who to talk to,” said Melissa Gilbert, spokesperson for The Partnership at Drugfree.org. “Dedicated to treatment, it gives you the precise knowledge and resources you need to help a child in crisis. And the site’s online community provides parents a place to breathe, a place to feel safe and to know that they are not alone.”

Unfortunately, Ms. Gilbert doesn't recognize the "messenger" in delivering this help. Hopefully she'll realize that her good intentions are being "fueled" by admitted convicted criminals.

In keeping up with Purdue Pharma's "spreading their holiday cheer" to those less fortunate, the Connecticut newspapers recently published a story of a legal center celebrating one year of service in helping veterans get back on their feet.

They wrote about Howard Udell, Purdue Pharma's chief counsel, who is on probation for misleading physicians and patients about the addictive and abusive qualities of the corporation's blockbuster drug, OxyContin. Udell has also been charged by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency and cannot work on any government sponsored programs such as Medicaid for twelve years.

The article goes on to say that Udell is "making a difference" in the lives of veterans and is an "unsung hero" for the heroes.

I think I speak for all the families in every state in the country and Canada suffering through loss of their kids because of the criminal marketing of OxyContin in saying -- "Mr. Udell you are no hero."

Salem-News.com Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's who pled guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 7-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.

oxydeaths.com/news_chilling.htm
nytimes.com/2007/05/10/business/11drug-web.html?
blog.nj.com/njv_bob_braun/2007/07/sometimes_only_justice_can_rel.html
judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=2905&wit_id=6612
You can send Marianne an email at: mskolek@aol.com
oxydeaths.com