Georgia - Yet Another State Dealing With an Epidemic of OxyContin Addiction, Death and Abuse

Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, lied about the addictive and abusive qualities of the drug, unleashing an unprecedented epidemic of death and addiction/

Artwork by Tim King Salem-News.com

(ATLANTA) - While the State of Georgia anxiously awaits a recently approved prescription drug monitoring database allowing the tracking of potentially addictive prescriptions which will save lives by identifying drug abusers -- an argument is taking place among lawmakers.

State lawmakers who approved establishing the database did not provide the $400,000 to $1.2 million it could take to get a system up and running -- and they don't know how or when it will get the money to start the database.

The irony of this funding to start the system could come from drug companies -- namely Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, who is responsible for the state's drug epidemic -- or the state could win a federal grant. Reports indicate it will be at least 2013 before the database is online --because the state Drugs and Narcotics Agency, responsible for its setup, is trying to determine how to best implement the database.

Drugs and Narcotics Agency head Rick Allen expects it to be more clear late this summer -- too late to meet a mid-May deadline for federal money.

“There is a lot of concern over future funding if the grants dry up or Georgia doesn’t qualify because of how tight the restrictions are that were written into the bill,” Allen wrote in response to questions from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the database.  Those restrictions were needed to get the measure passed. The database would allow physicians and pharmacists to review patients’ opioid prescription history for controlled substances that can become addictive — specifically OxyContin.

Jack Killorin, who heads a federal anti-drug task force in Atlanta called the Atlanta High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, hopes a database will facilitate treatment, not arrests.

“The best answer, if someone has become addicted to prescription pain killers, is that a physician will address that in the course of treatment,” he said. “We can get people early on before they are seriously addicted.”

There are physicians and pharmacists who have a problem with theoretically acting as "police" and not as medical personnel in confronting their patients.

“We have no way of knowing the patients are the criminals,” said Dr. Marion O’Neill Lee, a pain management physician in Tifton. “The real key is to give legitimate physicians the ability to practice their medicine,” Lee said. “We want to work on a database, and hopefully that will stem the tide.”

Some independent pharmacists have decided not to carry OxyContin and other highly addictive prescription medications to avoid becoming a target for addicts and pill pushers.

“We don’t stock it, so no one breaks in for it and none of the wrong people get the prescription,” said Bobby Harrell, a pharmacist who co-owns Briarcliff Pharmacy in DeKalb County. “But I’m running off legitimate customers who might become regular customers once they’re over their pain from surgery or what have you.”

Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, who lied about the addictive and abusive qualities of the drug and unleashed an unprecedented epidemic of death and addiction throughout the U.S. and Canada, recently had spokeswoman Libby Holman issue a statement saying "Purdue Pharma is open to working with the state (Georgia)."

An organization called the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) will also be offering the State of Georgia their "help." NADDI is kept financially fat and well fed at conferences held at the best hotels in the country -- funded by Purdue Pharma.

If you go to the NADDI Georgia website, it will indicate "Click here to view the current RX Drug Statistics." But the breakdowns are for the years 2007 and 2008. To click and read the President of NADDI's letter, it is undated but references the year 2009. Appears NADDI may have been too busy at the Purdue Pharma "feeding trough" to keep their statistics current.

Taking any help from Purdue Pharma -- or their funded organizations -- could be compared to Georgia asking the convicted Atlanta Child Murderer, Wayne Williams to assist law enforcement in solving murder cases.

"To hell with them. When history is written they will be the sons of bitches - not I."
Harry S. Truman

LP - "A healthy relationship is one in which two people encourage each other to reach their respective goals while sharing each other's hopes and dreams."   Daisaku Ikeda (born 1928) Japanese philosopher

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.

Marianne Skolek
National Activist for Victims of OxyContin and
Purdue Pharma - a criminally convicted pharmaceutical company
Staff Correspondent, Salem-News.com
www.oxydeaths.com