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By Robyn
Suriano
Publication: The Orlando Sentinel
Date: 1-26-04
WINTER PARK,
Fla. — Citing widespread abuse of Stamford, Conn.-based
Purdue Pharma’s painkiller OxyContin, members
of Congress said Monday that doctors, pharmacists and
drug manufacturers should brace themselves for new government
controls of potentially addictive prescription drugs.
The health-care industry’s arguments
against tighter monitoring — such as patient-privacy
concerns and the risk of scaring OxyContin away from
legitimate pain patients — just don’t cut
it today, said U.S Rep. Mark Souder.
The Indiana Republican said the “leave-it-alone
world” no longer exists, and earlier chided a
panel that included ‘a doctor, a pharmacist and
drug-company representative.
Frankly, I am very frustrated by your
testimony said Sowder who described himself as sympathetic
to the health-care industry but growing weary of getting
the crap kicked out of me” because of his support.
Some of the measures discussed were
shutting down Internet pharmacies that indiscriminately
dispense drugs that can be addictive; installing statewide
systems to track every prescription written for the
drugs; and enforcing existing penalties for doctors
and pharmacists who break the law.
Souder said, “We want to make
sure we don’t overreact, but I’m sorry,
they’re going to be controls. To not act suggests
irresponsibility.”
The hearing was attended by a small
group of people who carried placards bearing their loved
ones’ photos and the words “OxyContin kills”
in red letters. They wore yellow, buttons that said:
“RAPP: Relatives Against Purdue Pharma.”
The only relative of a pain patient
to testify was Fred Pauzar of Winter Park. He told the
congressmen of his son’s death from what he described
as an OxyConlin overdose in November. He said Christopher
Pauzar, 22, was prescribed the medication for a shoulder
injury, became addicted, and took it on the night he
died.
Pauzar, who runs an architecture firm,
partly blames Purdue Pharma’s marketing practices,
saying the drug company’s aggressive salesmanship
has prompted doctors to increasingly prescribe the medication
for lesser ailments. He thinks it should he banned for
“moderate pain."
"May you have the wisdom and the
courage to deal effectively with this threat to our
children” he told the panel, "by taking effective
steps to monitor and curb the improper marketing and
use of this devastating drug."
Purdue Pharma generally blames overdoses
on drug abusers who use the pain medication illegally,
and the company says the drug is rarely addictive when
used as prescribed.
Spokesman James Heins said Purdue actively
educates doctors about OxyContin and its' potential
dangers.
He said prescription-drug abuse goes
far beyond his company’s drug. |
