Probably a Victim of Prescription Drugs

Tabloid newspapers and website are kept busy these days by the high number of celebrities struggling with prescription drug abuse while reality shows like “Celebrity Rehab” chronicle their recovery. One unfortunate side effect of the focus on celebrity drug abuse is that it deflects from the reality of prescription drug abuse. The problem is one that crosses all economic and social lines. Addiction is not limited to wealthy celebrities – the majority of people who require treatment for addiction are working people with families and financial responsibilities. The true face of addiction looks a lot like your neighbor, co-worker or family member. Prescription drug abuse touches everyone from high school kids who have their whole future ahead of them to senior citizens who should be enjoying their retirement.

The majority of the news reports surrounding Houston’s tragic death spotlights the legacy of her musical career, missing the opportunity to educate the public about the prescription drug crisis in America. The CDC reports that an unintentional prescription drug overdose death occurs every 19 minutes and that prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the nation. The spike in prescription drug abuse has been attributed to a class of painkillers called opioids that includes OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet and Fentanyl. For every overdose death related to opioid drugs, nine people are admitted to substance abuse treatment centers for opioid dependency.

Despite the enormity of America’s prescription drug abuse problem, most health care providers receive minimal training about the risks of prescription drug. Several agencies of the federal government are currently attempting to educate both physicians and the public about the risks of prescription drug abuse. It’s understandable that the nation is now mourning the loss of Whitney Houston’s great talent. At the same time, it’s unfortunate that there isn’t more media focus on the equally tragic prescription drug overdoses that occur every 19 minutes.

We believe that the pharmaceutical industry is driven by researchers, doctors, and scientists who are dedicated to saving lives and increasing the quality of life.

Still, there is a dark side to the equation, which is highlighted in this video called “Confessions of a Pharma Rep.”  This woman who is a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry talks about some really poor practices through which the pharma industry has earned a bad reputation for.

Setting a Precedent for the Good of All!

In a prepared statement, CVS stated that it informed a small group of Florida doctors that their prescriptions for Schedule II narcotics will no longer be filled.  The company was not specific about how many doctors have been notified but stated that the action was taken in the interest of keeping controlled substances out of the wrong hands and preventing drug abuse.  CVS operates more than 700 pharmacies in Florida.
Due to a lack of prescription regulation in Florida, pain clinics have sprouted up throughout the state that freely dispense prescriptions for addictive prescription drugs like oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin).  Drug abusers and dealers from the eastern portion of the U.S. converge on Florida for easy access to prescription drugs.  Out of the top 100 doctors who wrote the most prescriptions for oxycodone in 2010, 90 were from Florida.
Florida law enforcement has targeted gangs of drug dealers who obtain prescriptions from pain clinics and sell prescription drugs on the street, but this the first action that a major pharmacy chain has taken to combat the prescription drug problem.
The Sentinel obtained a list of doctors who received letters from CVS and reports that many doctors on the list are already facing criminal charges for prescribing drugs for non-medical reasons.  The Florida Department of Health has also recommended that some of the doctors have their medical licenses suspended or revoked because of unethical practices.

One of the doctors, Riyaz Jummani, is accused of prescribing more oxycodone in the first quarter of 2010 that all of the doctors in California during the same period.

Orlando attorney Gus Benitez, who represents a doctor who is suing CVS for defamation of character, told the Sentinel that CVS should focus on making a profit rather than on cutting sales by limiting prescriptions for addictive drugs.  Benitez’s client, Dr. Sylvester Hanna, owns a pain clinic in Orlando.

The new super painkiller will contain more than four times the amount of hydrocodone found in a single Vicodin tablet.  Many experts fear that competition between pharmaceutical makers to get the powerful new drug to the market will add to the nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic.  There is also concern about lawmakers that this new drug could create a new class of drug abusers and fuel the prescription drug black market.
According to Teva, TD Hydrocodone contains a 12-hour time-released formula and up to 45 milligrams of pure hydrocodone.  In comparison, Vicodin contains 10 milligrams of hydrocodone and is not time-released.  While other hydrocodone-based drugs have also contained a non-addictive painkiller like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, the new drug contains pure hydrocodone.
Hydrocodone is categorized as an opiate, a class of drugs that includes oxycodone and morphine.  The chemical makeup of these drugs resembles opium.  Like opium, they are a powerful antidote to pain but carry the risk of abuse, addiction and overdose.  The physical dependence associated with opiate drugs can case withdrawal symptoms in users who try to stop taking them.

Charles Schumer - Voice of Reason

The Associated Press released a statement from Senator Charles Schumer of New York calling on the FDA to slowdown the “stampede” to bring powerful new painkillers to the market.  Policymakers and law enforcement agencies are currently fighting a growing prescription drug war that frequently turns violent.  In New York State, two recent pharmacy robberies connected to prescription drugs left six people dead.  The FDA did not respond to Schumer’s challenge.
Teva has not yet applied for FDA approval but is said to be in the final stages of testing for the drug.  Teva spokesman William Marth recently told investors that the drug should be on the market in the near future.  Teva is one of four companies currently working to release a pure hydrocodone drug.  One of the companies, San Diego-based Zogenix, is expected to apply to the FDA early this year for its drug Zohydro.  Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin (currently the most abused prescription drug), is also working on a version of the new drug.
Pain management experts predict that doctors will increase prescriptions for opiate drugs over the next decade as the U.S. population ages.  The painkiller drug market is estimated to be worth billions of dollars each year, giving drug companies plenty of incentive to develop more powerful drugs that could be associated with higher rates of abuse.

Enter at Own Risk - Packing Heat

MSNBC reports that pharmacy thieves are overwhelmingly targeting oxycodone painkillers like OxyContin and Roxicodone and hydrocone-based pain pills like Vicodin and Norco.  Both oxycodone and hydrocodone are highly addictive.
Although most drug store robbers don’t hurt anyone during the commission of their crime, the risk of violence seems to be increasing.  These are some of the more shocking pharmacy crimes of the past few months:
•    On Father’s Day, New York resident David Laffer executed four people in a Long Island pharmacy where he had gone in search of drugs for his wife.  After taking 10,000 painkillers and other pills at gunpoint, Laffer shot and killed two store employees and two customers ranging in age from 17 to 71.  Laffer was sentenced to four consecutive life terms and his wife Melinda Brady was sentence to 25 years for her role in the crime.
•    On New Year’s Eve, off-duty federal agent John Capano was picking up a prescription at a Long Island pharmacy when he confronted robber James McGoey.  A struggle ensued and both Capano and McGoey were shot and killed by a retired police officer who was responding to the reported robbery.
•    In late 2010, two Sacramento female drug store employees were shot when a gun battle erupted between two armed robbers and another store employee who had a semi-automatic handgun.  One of the employees died of a gunshot wound to the chest and the other, who was pregnant, survived.  Both suspects were later apprehended and await trial.
Across the country, there have been more than 2,800 pharmacy robberies since 2006.  Small, independent drug stores are often targeted because they have fewer customers at any one time and a robber can get in and out more quickly.  In 2010, almost 700 robberies involved a gun.
The amount of prescription drug abuse in America is staggering.  Recent data from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that 7 million people in the U.S., or almost 3% of the population, use prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.  NIDA also reports that 73% of prescription drug abuse is associated with painkillers.
The National Community Pharmacies Association has launched a Protect Your Pharmacies initiative.  Drug store owners are encouraged to keep addictive painkillers like OxyContin locked in a safe and to rearrange their store so the store entrance can be viewed from the pharmacy counter.  Although the initiative does not recommend that pharmacists arm themselves, many have begun to keep a gun behind the counter.  Unfortunately, gun battles in drug stores can result in the death of innocent employees, customers and bystanders.

Office Closed Today...er... Forever

In a prepared statement published in The Washington Post, U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. called Dr. Diaz a drug dealer and said he and other doctors who distribute addictive drugs without medical cause will face stiff penalties in federal court.

Voice of Hope and Power(ful Drug Companies)

The American Pain Foundation (APF) describes itself as an advocacy organization for patient pain relief. The non-profit foundation promotes the message that the threat of addiction to prescription painkillers has been exaggerated and pain medication is underused. A non-profit news organization named ProPublica has investigated the American Pain Foundation and found that almost 90% of the group’s $5 million in funding in 2010 came from pharmaceutical companies. One of these companies is Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin.

The views promoted by APF are in contrast to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that more than 15,000 people die each year from overdoses of opioid painkillers like OxyContin. The CDC has called the painkiller situation an epidemic and a growing group of experts question the effectiveness of these drugs.

Although Will Rowe, chief executive of the APF, has stated that the chief interest of the group is in helping people who are affected by pain, several board members have financial ties to drug manufacturers. The foundation has a history of lobbying against state and federal legislation to regulate opioid use, arguing that pain is undertreated in the U.S. The APF has also sided with and assisted drug makers that have been the target of lawsuits. In 2001, the organization provided information to help block a class action suit against Purdue Pharma brought by patients in Ohio who were addicted to OxyContin.

The foundation uses a variety of websites and online publications to spread its message. ProPublica reporters reviewed the foundation’s patient guides and found that they downplay the risks associated with opioids while extolling the benefits of painkiller medication. This is a typical example from the organization’s website: “With proper pain management, your overall health, well-being and quality of life will improve. Your mind and body will be less stressed. You’ll be able to sleep better and enjoy relationships with friends and family.”
On a website called PainSAFE.org, the APF says this about opioids: “Every medication has risks, and so does the decision not to treat pain… In general, opioids are safe and effective when used as directed.” According to the APF, the side effects of opioids are minor and pass within a few days. Far more risks are described for over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen.
Dr. Andrew Kolodny, head of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, was quoted by ProPublica as stating that many politicians and policymakers are unaware of the ties between the American Pain Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Kolodny characterizes the foundation as a “front for opioid manufacturers.”
In 2010, $8.5 billion in narcotic painkillers like OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet were prescribed in the U.S. About $3 billion of this amount when for OxyContin alone. According to Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, “Right now, the system is awash in opioids, dangerous drugs that get people hooked and keep them hooked.”

The movie “Overtaken” is a tour de force that will shock viewers into contemplating drug use and it’s effect on society.  As we  meet charming teen after teen who discuss how drugs derailed their lives, the viewer cannot help but feel moved and outraged that not more awareness is being given to this epidemic.

We started StopOxy in 2009 to bring awareness to the OxyContin epidemic.  To see such a stirring portrayal of the effects of drug use on teens gives us hope that the message will be heard and that change is in the works.

We feel that everyone – from teens to grandparents – should see this film.  Anyone who comes in contact with an at risk teen has the chance to help that person.

Let’s not stay quiet anymore, let’s let our voice and message be heard loudly.   The film is 27 minutes long and would not have ever come to be if it weren’t for Jodi Barber’s strength in deciding to try and make a difference in the world after the loss of her son.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer stated, “According to recent estimates, Florida prescribes ten times more oxycodone pills than all other states combined.”

Raging OxyContin Pill Mill Haven

From government DEA Website justice.gov: link.

Purdue Pharma - Profiting Off the Destruction of Lives

In 2007, three top executives at Purdue Pharma (maker of OxyContin) were criminally charged for their role in the marketing of the addictive narcotic painkiller.  The executives were each convicted of a criminal misdemeanor under a somewhat obscure law known as the “responsible corporate officer” doctrine and could have faced a year in prison.  Instead, former CEO Michael Friedman, former medical director Paul Goldenheim and former general counsel Howard Udell agreed to deals that included three years of probation and fines totaling $34.5 million.

As part of their plea bargain, the Purdue Pharma trio also agreed to a sanction prohibiting them from doing business with Medicare and other taxpayer-funded healthcare programs for 20 years.  This sanction effectively bars them from working in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.  Following legal maneuvering by lawyers for the executives, the sanction was reduced to 12 years.
Only four years later, lawyers for the trio are again challenging this portion of their sentence.  A Washington, D.C. judge upheld the sanction last year, but now the executives have taken their appeal to a circuit court. Through their lawyers, the executive are claiming not to have known what was being done by lower-level employees of Purdue Pharma.

Purdue Pharma was found to have misled doctors and patients over a period of five years by claiming that OxyContin is less addictive than other narcotic painkillers because it has a long-acting time-released formula.  The executives say they were unaware that company representative were making this claim about the drug.  As it turned out, OxyContin was more addictive than other painkillers when the time-released mechanism was circumvented by crushing the tablet.  Thousands of people have become addicted to OxyContin and died from overdoses since the drug’s release.

The sanction targeting the executives was handed down by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Carter Phillips, the lawyer who heads the executive’s defense team, is arguing that the 12-year employment ban is unsupported by evidence and unreasonable.  He has also stated that the sanction will end the careers of the executives.  Federal prosecutor Robin Meriweather argued in a brief that the executives are responsible for failing to prevent or correct the fraudulent misbranding of their highly-profitable OxyContin product, despite having responsibility for the company’s conduct.

According to legal experts, the OxyContin case will test the authority of government to punish executives for corporate misconduct.