More Drug Rehab? It’s Likely, If Purdue’s New OxyContin Gets Approved.
The FDA panel charged with approving, or not, Purdue Pharma’s new allegedly abuse-resistant form of OxyContin is skeptical. In fact, skeptical doesn’t really cover it. “I’m fascinated with the poor scientific rigor” of the data presented by Purdue Pharma LP, maker of OxyContin, FDA panel member Jeffrey R. Kirsch said. ” It’s almost insulting.” You’d think that after lying about the drug before, being fined $635 million, killing God knows how many people and sending thousands to drug rehab, Purdue would have had the good sense to at least provide scientific evidence to back their claims.
Wait – I forgot – they already tried that with the first OxyContin. Only that time the ‘scientific evidence’ was manufactured by the sales and marketing teams. Maybe they didn’t think anyone would believe them the second time anyway so they just didn’t bother with that pesky science end of things.
FDA officials also voiced concern that labelling the new form of OxyContin as less addictive or having a lower potential for abuse would encourage more people to take it and, consequently, result in even more addiction, more drug rehab facility overload, and more deaths.
I hope the FDA panel sticks to their guns. The agency is there to protect us. It obviously failed to do so on the first go ’round with OxyContin. We don’t need any more people in drug rehab facilities, or morgues, so let’s hope we don’t get a repeat.
From my viewpoint, Purdue really doesn’t deserve a second chance. I think the company’s lucky to still be there – isn’t there still a Public Enemy list? Shouldn’t this company be on it?
The cool thing about this news story is where I read it. It’s on NASDAQ.com. That’s right where it belongs, folks. OxyContin isn’t really about helping people in pain, it’s all about the money.
If you’re taking OxyContin, watch out. Take as little as possible, if you really have to take it at all, and get off it as soon as possible. And, whatever you do, don’t let it get into the hands of someone else. You’re just setting them up for a drug rehab program, or worse.
drug rehab, drug rehab program, oxycontin, OxyContin FDA panel, Purdue PharmaPopularity: 12% [?]
The FDA allowed the addiction and abuse in epidemic proportion throughout the country of OxyContin by wearing blinders. This criminal activity was under the FDA’s watchful eye. Purdue Pharma and their 3 CEO’s Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim may have been criminally convicted, but the FDA should have been sentenced right along with them.
Comment by Marianne Skolek — May 6, 2008 @ 3:53 am