Question:
>: Jeffrey Kofman >: Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control >: the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old >: Justin took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed >: him. >: >: Lorraine Horton ( mother) >: Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. >Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is >beyond my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately
Three pills? What strength was she taking that just three pills would kill a healthy teen? If they were 20 mg pills, that would only be 60 mg of OxyContin, which doesn’t strike me as a lethal dose, even for an opiate virgin. Alan —
Response:
>I don’t believe necessarily that the kid was on a quest to get high. >When something essentially falls into one’s lap, especially as a teen, >why should they turn it down? I remember that stupidity that comes with >the age since I just got a son through his teens not long ago. If 3 >pills killed this kid, it’s possible he didn’t do this kind of thing >regularly, if ever, but couldn’t turn away a good chance for a high when >presented. (although I concede that we don’t know the strength of the >pills and that’s a factor)
Why are we making excuses for a kid’s stupidity? When I was a teen, I knew not to take someone else’s medicine. My grandmother took lots of prescription medications, which were never locked up, yet neither my sister nor I ever even thought of taking any of her pills. Not even before we were teens. Maybe we were just raised right. >Doesn’t anyone here believe that these types of meds SHOULD be locked up >as if they were a loaded gun? There should be NO consequences? What if >your neighbor left her drugs out and YOUR child died from taking them >when visiting their friend? You’d be screaming for blood then! I think
Why? Is it their fault my kid is a moron? No, that would be the fault of my wife and I. If your kid rides his bike into the street without looking and is killed by a car, do you blame the driver? Unless the neighbor GIVES the drugs to your kid (who, if he has any sense, still won’t take them and will tell you what the neighbor did), it’s not the neighbor’s fault. >that with a teen, leaving those meds around unguarded and easily >accessible is tantamount to leaving a loaded gun around a six year old. >If it was a six year old who died after the parent left a loaded gun out, >would you think the parent had paid enough already? I sure wouldn’t.
A six year old doesn’t understand consequences of actions. A teen does (though they may not act like they do.) If a teen knows taking drugs can make you high, he/she also knows that taking drugs can kill him/her. He/she also knows stealing is wrong. >So I guess you all leave your meds accessible to anyone in the house?
Mine are out of sight, but not locked up. >Believe me, if you do, you wouldn’t last long as a patient with my pain >doc. There is NO sympathy for lost pills no matter how they are lost. >These pills aren’t toys. People will steal for them, even going so far >as to put a gun in your face. They have a high street value. Anyone who
If someone does pull a gun on you to get your pills, it doesn’t matter that they’re locked up – you’ll open the lock. >a child who died after playing with a loaded gun they left laying around >is kicking them while they are down. I find it entirely plausible that a >teen finds a drug of his mom’s easily accessed and after all the hype on >the news, wants to experiment with it when he never would have otherwise.
Then call it evolution in action – the stupidest don’t survive. I have no sympathy for idiots. It’s because of assholes like this kid that we have such problems getting the meds we need. >get high come hell or high water. Not every teen is on a >"I’m-gonna-get-high-one-way-or-the-other" hunt for drugs! Quite a few >just stumble into the opportunity.
I disagree. I don’t think anyone who isn’t looking for a high stumbles across someone’s medicine and says to himself, "Gee, I wonder what will happen if I take some of these?" I doubt the instructions on the pill bottle said "Take Three," so why did he take three. This kid wanted to get high, saw the medication, decided to steal some, and paid the ultimate price for his stupidity. Alan —
Response:
> Jeffrey Kofman > Because of the abuse, the government has asked the manufacturer to cut > back its marketing of the drug. But because it’s so effective for so many > in severe pain, outlawing it would be unthinkable.
Well, I hope that’s true. But then why is the Va AG holding public hearings about it? Jon Miller
Response:
> If 3 pills killed this kid, it’s possible he didn’t do this kind of thing > regularly, if ever, but > couldn’t turn away a good chance for a high when presented. (although I > concede that we don’t know the strength of the pills and that’s a factor)
And, we have to also consider the possibility that there were other drugs and/or alcohol involved as well. This was discussed in another thread. Jon Miller
Response:
In another report this mom said the pills were hidden, but he found them anyway. Just how far does she have to go to keep meds away from a 17 year old? That is after all almost an adult. This is just plain and simple drug abuse. A 17 year old knows better than to take someone else’s meds — or should. So do we prosecute parents who let kids get into vitamins? Vitamins kill kids too. Where do we stop? If she had them hidden and he went searching for them then what was she really supposed to do? I know — a lock box, but not many of us do. Guess we are responsible if a teen burglar gets in and finds the meds and od’s, right? Same thing to me, he stole them from where they were hidden.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I don’t believe necessarily that the kid was on a quest to get high. When > something essentially falls into one’s lap, especially as a teen, why should > they turn it down? I remember that stupidity that comes with the age since > I just got a son through his teens not long ago. If 3 pills killed this > kid, it’s possible he didn’t do this kind of thing regularly, if ever, but > couldn’t turn away a good chance for a high when presented. (although I > concede that we don’t know the strength of the pills and that’s a factor) > Doesn’t anyone here believe that these types of meds SHOULD be locked up as > if they were a loaded gun? There should be NO consequences? What if your > neighbor left her drugs out and YOUR child died from taking them when > visiting their friend? You’d be screaming for blood then! I think that > with a teen, leaving those meds around unguarded and easily accessible is > tantamount to leaving a loaded gun around a six year old. If it was a six > year old who died after the parent left a loaded gun out, would you think > the parent had paid enough already? I sure wouldn’t. There are laws > against doing something that stupid, but it took a lot of kids dying before > the laws were enacted. There aren’t laws, but there sure should be high > expectations from any person entrusted with these kinds of meds, and > consequences if they act like it’s a bottle of vitamin C. > So I guess you all leave your meds accessible to anyone in the house? > Believe me, if you do, you wouldn’t last long as a patient with my pain doc. > There is NO sympathy for lost pills no matter how they are lost. These > pills aren’t toys. People will steal for them, even going so far as to put > a gun in your face. They have a high street value. Anyone who leaves them > where they are easily accessed is irresponsible and should face consequences > because it’s not always where they pay the price of losing their own child. > I don’t even know the woman who did this, so my opinion is hardly going to > be kicking anyone while they are down. I don’t consider prosecuting her > kicking her while she’s down anymore than prosecuting the parents of a child > who died after playing with a loaded gun they left laying around is kicking > them while they are down. I find it entirely plausible that a teen finds a > drug of his mom’s easily accessed and after all the hype on the news, wants > to experiment with it when he never would have otherwise. And perhaps if > he’d not been home experimenting by himself (if that’s the case, since they > don’t say anyone else got any at the time), he would have been told by > others that the dose he wanted to take was too strong for a first-time > attempt and ended up taking less and lived. Yes, this is assuming a lot, > but it’s also assuming a lot that the kid was out to get high come hell or > high water. Not every teen is on a > "I’m-gonna-get-high-one-way-or-the-other" hunt for drugs! Quite a few just > stumble into the opportunity. > — > The Mouse > No cute quote; deal with it. > AIM ID: JSHMTE > ICQ# 9049058 > : I’m sorry, but when are we going to start expecting our teens to behave > and > : NOT abuse someone elses medications? Teens are not STUPID. This kid was > : looking to get high. If his mom didn’t have oxy in the house, don’t you > : think he would just go somewhere else to find drugs? YES HE WOULD. > That’s > : what people who are looking to get high do, t hey keep looking until they > : find something to get high on. This mom did nothing wrong. Put the blame > : where it belongs, on the kid who did what he knew was wrong. And you > can’t > : tell me he didn’t know it was wrong. It’s sad that he paid with his life > : but it was HIS choice to take those pills. It was his choice to take 3 in > : an attempt to get a buzz. > : > : Lori > : > : > : > > : > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she > : face > : > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can > : get > : > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > : > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s > death? > : > > : > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control > : > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old > : > : Justin > : > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed > : > : him. > : > : > : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) > : > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. > : > > : > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is > beyond > : > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control > their > : > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on > vacation > : > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was > : put > : > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain > : > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They > : > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had > to > : > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t > : dismisseed, > : > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any > : reason, > : > they will be dropped. > : > > : > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose > their > : > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to > : > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it > as > : if > : > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! > : > > : > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have > : > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom > : > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also > don’t > : > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for > : someone > : > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period > of > : > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. > : > > : > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC > : > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication > : > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as > the > : > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor > : > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, > : because > : > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left > her > : > OxyC’s easily accessible. > : > > : > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to > : herself > : > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook > : for > : > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home > for > : > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I > : made > : > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived > : with > : > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those > meds > : > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not > : > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. > : > > : > — > : > The Mouse > : > > : > No cute quote; deal with it. > : > AIM ID: JSHMTE > : > ICQ# 9049058 > : > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of > : > : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or > : > : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter > Jennings > : > : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… > : > : > : > : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by > : > : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, > Fla. > : > : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by > : > : highlighting several > : > : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that > : > : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it > would > : > : be unthinkable." > : > : > : > : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News > : > : Thursday, May 3, 2001 > : > : > : > : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC > : > : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the > : > : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many > patients > : > : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** > : > : > : > : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: > : > : > : > : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) > : > : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic
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Response:
Thanks alot media!! Up until now, when I said I was a pain patient, it didnt mean anything to anyone. Now everyone knows I’m a potential target. I’ve never been called any kind of addict, until now. I’ve never been stereotyped, until now. My life was too hard already. This is intolerable. Anybody writing? Any snail addys or voicemails for these people?
Response:
What a sad story. I am the mother of three sons, ages 18, 19 and 20. While they are all very responsible young men, I do keep my "heavy" meds (Percocets, Loritabs and Oxycontin) safely tucked away in my purse. It’s not that I don’t trust my boys, I really do…but they have all kinds of friends in and out day and night and I don’t always trust them! So, I protect them and me. If this mom had her meds in a safe place, how in the world could she be blamed??? Teresa
Response:
For the past few years many of us have repeated the statistics offered by groups such as the Wisconsin Cancer Pain Initiative, the American Pain Society, the World Health Organization, and just about every other physician or patient member group that advocates for those with chronic or terminal pain: that less than 1% of those taking opioid analgesics develop addiction problems. What happened? It seems that we (myself included) may be forgetting that these medicines, when used appropriately and as prescribed for our pain are actually very safe. In some of my posts I find myself admitting that these drugs are dangerous and life threatening, and Peter Jennings mentions in passing, "OxyContin is fiercely addicting." I would best that for the majority who watched this newscast, the one point that they will remember above and beyond everything else is Jennings’s statement. For the past five to ten years, WE have been making our case for opioid therapy, how it has helped us in regaining some quality to our lives – doing so with unqualified statements. I see this changing, that the news blitz is doing harm to us in ways we may not suspect…maybe I am misreading some posts, here and elsewhere, not giving the majority the benefit of having the intelligence to not allow these reports, so lacking in fact, influence our own opinions in a subtle sort of way. Just an observation and maybe I am out in left field… To anyone who lives in Virginia, please try to attend the public hearing next week. All of the "ban-OxyContin" people will be there and it would be sad if their views and arguments were not questioned. Dave Lamborne http://painlinks.org
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> If you reread the article it states that the meds were hidden and the son > found them. So your placing blame on the mother seems rather harsh. The son > was 17 years old… one year away from reaching majority and being able to > serve his country and kill people. He wasn’t a small child who didn’t know > better. He knew what getting high was about and he stole drugs to achieve > that high. Sorry, but not much sympathy for and adult who knows the choices > and makes a wrong one. Sure, I’d rather he not be dead… but I’m not ready > to crucify his mother for what he did. I was dealing drugs at age 17… so I > don’t buy into that he was a naive little child. > For me, my OxyContin is just another drug. I keep it with all my other > prescription meds. There is a level of responsibility for all prescription > meds but I don’t consider opiates to have any higher level of > responsibility. I don’t leave my meds laying around in plain sight and that > should be good enough. If someone were to steal my prescriptions, then it’s > them who did wrong, not me. > There are many things in each of our homes that is equally lethal as guns > and opiates. We all have cleaning fluids, cans of paint, and other stuff > like that. Or how about electricity and gas? More people die from those than > opiates… should we not have them around if children are present? Or > wouldn’t it be better to teach our children right from wrong and the dangers > of misusing cleaning fluids and paint, gas and electricity, guns, and our > medications? Or even teach them respect and love. Even though I was a drug > addict and a drug dealer, I had enough respect for my mother that I never > stole her pain medications… even though I knew exactly what they were and > where they were located. > There’s no way I’m buying a safe just to keep my OxyContin in. I have stuff > in my home that is much more valuable than a few drugs and I don’t lock > those up each time I leave. Sure, there is a risk that someone may break > into my home and rob me.. but I haven’t bought into the media hype of people > coming to my house to rob me only for my Oxy. And any doctor who blames the > patient for someone else committing a crime has lost touch with reality. I > hope he remembers that when he gets robbed and thinks about filing an > insurance claim for his property… he should have kept it all in a safe. > Ziggy > Like it or not, these meds ARE dangerous! And if a patient is not acting > responsibly with the meds they are given, no doctor should prescribe them > to > that patient. I happen to agree with the policy in my doctor’s office. > We’ve all talked about how we keep our meds protected. I know some here > use > safes. Why is that? Certainly not because these meds are safe in the > wrong > hands? People know that these meds are highly sought after and terribly > dangerous when kids get them and know nothing about what is safe to take. > Right now, my doc’s office actually had to issue a notice to the patients > because during pain clinic, the parking lot looks like a frigging Actiq > lollipop stick disposal site! Another case of patients acting like idiots > with something dangerous. With even a little medication left on those > sticks, kids and animals could be hurt badly or killed, yet patients were > throwing them down on the ground, some with noticeable meds still left on > them! If any of these patients have small children and use their Actiq > so > irresponsibly all the time, a kid is going to die sooner or later. > Sure, we want the right to have pain meds when we suffer from intractable > pain. But with rights come responsibilities. And if a patient can’t act > responsibly with those meds, then they shouldn’t get them no matter how > much > pain they are in! I’m not talking about an up front test, but if a > patient > getting meds clearly demonstrates they do not even recognize the inherent > danger of leaving these meds laying around when ANY underage child is > around, or when they toss away only partially used medication in public > parking lots or leaves them laying around their home with children in it, > they’ve shown they have their heads way to far up their arses to be > trusted > with those meds. There is FAR too much to lose–children’s lives, for > starters. > I disagree, Zig. These meds aren’t just another medication. In > principal, > maybe, but in reality they ARE as dangerous as loaded gun when left > laying > around on a nightstand when kids are in the house. If someone is going to > get these meds prescribed to them, they need to act responsibly with them, > and that means NOT leaving them laying around on a nightstand hoping a > curious teen will be a good boy. Sure, the kid shouldn’t have taken them, > but he did, and he did it because they were totally and completely > accessible. I don’t think any error a child makes should cost a life! > But > this was as much, and more, a mistake made by the mother by handling those > pills as if they were toys. Kids do stupid things as part of their very > nature, which is why they have PARENTS to protect them. This woman blew > it. > Those pills aren’t toys or candy. They are LETHAL in the wrong hands, and > that’s a truth that will not change no matter how much spin people want to > put on the meds so they are easier for pain patients to get. > — > The Mouse > No cute quote; deal with it. > AIM ID: JSHMTE > ICQ# 9049058 > : We fight to have our pain meds viewed by the public as not being > different > : than any other medication so we can gain better access to them by more > : people and then we compare them to a loaded gun? Seems kind of self > : defeating. > : > : I also don’t believe anyone "deserves to lose their meds" due to someone > : else’s illegal actions. > : > : Ziggy > : > : > : > > : > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should > she > : face > : > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen > can > : get > : > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > : > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s > death? > : > > : > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control > : > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old > : > : Justin > : > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It > killed > : > : him. > : > : > : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) > : > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. > : > > : > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is > beyond > : > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control > their > : > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on > vacation > : > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient > was > : put > : > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a > pain > : > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. > They > : > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they > had > to > : > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t > : dismisseed, > : > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any > : reason, > : > they will be dropped. > : > > : > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose > their > : > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson > to > : > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law
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Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->OxyContin "fiercely addictive" >Wow… this sounds very similar to what we’ve been hearing from the media… >killer drug. > I don’t believe necessarily that the kid was on a quest to get high. When > something essentially falls into one’s lap, especially as a teen, why >should > they turn it down? I remember that stupidity that comes with the age >since > I just got a son through his teens not long ago. If 3 pills killed this > kid, it’s possible he didn’t do this kind of thing regularly, if ever, but > couldn’t turn away a good chance for a high when presented. (although I > concede that we don’t know the strength of the pills and that’s a factor) > Doesn’t anyone here believe that these types of meds SHOULD be locked up >as > if they were a loaded gun? There should be NO consequences? What if your > neighbor left her drugs out and YOUR child died from taking them when > visiting their friend? You’d be screaming for blood then! I think that > with a teen, leaving those meds around unguarded and easily accessible is > tantamount to leaving a loaded gun around a six year old. If it was a six > year old who died after the parent left a loaded gun out, would you think > the parent had paid enough already? I sure wouldn’t. There are laws > against doing something that stupid, but it took a lot of kids dying >before > the laws were enacted. There aren’t laws, but there sure should be high > expectations from any person entrusted with these kinds of meds, and > consequences if they act like it’s a bottle of vitamin C. > So I guess you all leave your meds accessible to anyone in the house? > Believe me, if you do, you wouldn’t last long as a patient with my pain >doc. > There is NO sympathy for lost pills no matter how they are lost. These > pills aren’t toys. People will steal for them, even going so far as to >put > a gun in your face. They have a high street value. Anyone who leaves >them > where they are easily accessed is irresponsible and should face >consequences > because it’s not always where they pay the price of losing their own >child. > I don’t even know the woman who did this, so my opinion is hardly going to > be kicking anyone while they are down.
First, the pills were not left out in the open to be just *found*. Second, if my 17 yr old went to a neighbors house and took drugs that their son *looked for and found when it was hidden*, I would not be screaming bloody murder against the neighbors, as you suggest. I believe you are in the vast minority on this opinion Mouse. I’m not a revengeful SOB when someone who is 17, and able to drive, and is a honor roll student (and accepted to a school on a full academic scholorship,according to the article) decides to take someone elses prescription drugs. I’d blame my child for being stupid, and wouldn’t be looking for the head of the neighbor. It’s called being accountable for your own actions. Blaming others is just the cowards way out. Some of us are able to control our children and instill in them the knowledge of responsibility and accountabilty for their own actions. Parenting can only go so far. But to blame someone else for the actions of a person who is almost an adult is just ridiculous. Just passing the buck along and pointing fingers at others instead of the person who should be held accountable. It’s disturbing to me when people always want to blame others for actions that they aren’t responsible for. Just MHO. — Regards, ~alex
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This is horrifying!!!!! If I hadn’t been allowed the medication I needed, I would have lost my job, my home, my son, and I would have been institutionalized as a crying, curled up, catatonic drain on society creature who just didn’t want to live.
Response:
I agree, David. I too feel like the media has influenced how some of us view opiates. I still consider my OxyContin just another prescription drug that I’m required to take if I want a life. It’s only dangerous if I choose to abuse it… but no more dangerous than if I abused or overdosed on many of my other meds. Heck, my Flexerils offer a much better high if that’s all I’m looking for. There is a level of responsibility for all prescriptions medications, but I don’t feel opiates (or in this case we’re talking about Oxycontin only) require a safe or any high tech security. The best security a person can have is to just not tell anyone you’re taking it. Ziggy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> For the past few years many of us have repeated the statistics offered > by groups such as the Wisconsin Cancer Pain Initiative, the American > Pain Society, the World Health Organization, and just about every other > physician or patient member group that advocates for those with chronic > or terminal pain: that less than 1% of those taking opioid analgesics > develop addiction problems. What happened? It seems that we (myself > included) may be forgetting that these medicines, when used > appropriately and as prescribed for our pain are actually very safe. In > some of my posts I find myself admitting that these drugs are dangerous > and life threatening, and Peter Jennings mentions in passing, "OxyContin > is fiercely addicting." I would best that for the majority who watched > this newscast, the one point that they will remember above and beyond > everything else is Jennings’s statement. For the past five to ten years, > WE have been making our case for opioid therapy, how it has helped us in > regaining some quality to our lives – doing so with unqualified > statements. I see this changing, that the news blitz is doing harm to us > in ways we may not suspect…maybe I am misreading some posts, here and > elsewhere, not giving the majority the benefit of having the > intelligence to not allow these reports, so lacking in fact, influence > our own opinions in a subtle sort of way. > Just an observation and maybe I am out in left field… > To anyone who lives in Virginia, please try to attend the public hearing > next week. All of the "ban-OxyContin" people will be there and it would > be sad if their views and arguments were not questioned. > Dave Lamborne > http://painlinks.org > If you reread the article it states that the meds were hidden and the > son > found them. So your placing blame on the mother seems rather harsh. > The son > was 17 years old… one year away from reaching majority and being > able to > serve his country and kill people. He wasn’t a small child who didn’t > know > better. He knew what getting high was about and he stole drugs to > achieve > that high. Sorry, but not much sympathy for and adult who knows the > choices > and makes a wrong one. Sure, I’d rather he not be dead… but I’m not > ready > to crucify his mother for what he did. I was dealing drugs at age > 17… so I > don’t buy into that he was a naive little child. > For me, my OxyContin is just another drug. I keep it with all my other > prescription meds. There is a level of responsibility for all > prescription > meds but I don’t consider opiates to have any higher level of > responsibility. I don’t leave my meds laying around in plain sight and > that > should be good enough. If someone were to steal my prescriptions, then > it’s > them who did wrong, not me. > There are many things in each of our homes that is equally lethal as > guns > and opiates. We all have cleaning fluids, cans of paint, and other > stuff > like that. Or how about electricity and gas? More people die from > those than > opiates… should we not have them around if children are present? Or > wouldn’t it be better to teach our children right from wrong and the > dangers > of misusing cleaning fluids and paint, gas and electricity, guns, and > our > medications? Or even teach them respect and love. Even though I was a > drug > addict and a drug dealer, I had enough respect for my mother that I > never > stole her pain medications… even though I knew exactly what they > were and > where they were located. > There’s no way I’m buying a safe just to keep my OxyContin in. I have > stuff > in my home that is much more valuable than a few drugs and I don’t > lock > those up each time I leave. Sure, there is a risk that someone may > break > into my home and rob me.. but I haven’t bought into the media hype of > people > coming to my house to rob me only for my Oxy. And any doctor who > blames the > patient for someone else committing a crime has lost touch with > reality. I > hope he remembers that when he gets robbed and thinks about filing an > insurance claim for his property… he should have kept it all in a > safe. > Ziggy > > Like it or not, these meds ARE dangerous! And if a patient is not > acting > > responsibly with the meds they are given, no doctor should prescribe > them > to > > that patient. I happen to agree with the policy in my doctor’s > office. > > We’ve all talked about how we keep our meds protected. I know some > here > use > > safes. Why is that? Certainly not because these meds are safe in > the > wrong > > hands? People know that these meds are highly sought after and > terribly > > dangerous when kids get them and know nothing about what is safe to > take. > > Right now, my doc’s office actually had to issue a notice to the > patients > > because during pain clinic, the parking lot looks like a frigging > Actiq > > lollipop stick disposal site! Another case of patients acting like > idiots > > with something dangerous. With even a little medication left on > those > > sticks, kids and animals could be hurt badly or killed, yet patients > were > > throwing them down on the ground, some with noticeable meds still > left on > > them! If any of these patients have small children and use their > Actiq > so > > irresponsibly all the time, a kid is going to die sooner or later. > > Sure, we want the right to have pain meds when we suffer from > intractable > > pain. But with rights come responsibilities. And if a patient > can’t act > > responsibly with those meds, then they shouldn’t get them no matter > how > much > > pain they are in! I’m not talking about an up front test, but if a > patient > > getting meds clearly demonstrates they do not even recognize the > inherent > > danger of leaving these meds laying around when ANY underage child > is > > around, or when they toss away only partially used medication in > public > > parking lots or leaves them laying around their home with children > in it, > > they’ve shown they have their heads way to far up their arses to be > trusted > > with those meds. There is FAR too much to lose–children’s lives, > for > > starters. > > I disagree, Zig. These meds aren’t just another medication. In > principal, > > maybe, but in reality they ARE as dangerous as loaded gun when left > laying > > around on a nightstand when kids are in the house. If someone is > going to > > get these meds prescribed to them, they need to act responsibly with > them, > > and that means NOT leaving them laying around on a nightstand hoping > a > > curious teen will be a good boy. Sure, the kid shouldn’t have taken > them, > > but he did, and he did it because they were totally and completely > > accessible. I don’t think any error a child makes should cost a > life! > But > > this was as much, and more, a mistake made by the mother by handling > those > > pills as if they were toys. Kids do stupid things as part of their > very > > nature, which is why they have PARENTS to protect them. This woman > blew > it. > > Those pills aren’t toys or candy. They are LETHAL in the wrong > hands, and > > that’s a truth that will not change no matter how much spin people > want to > > put on the meds so they are easier for pain patients to get. > > — > > The Mouse > > No cute quote; deal with it. > > AIM ID: JSHMTE > > ICQ# 9049058 > > : We fight to have our pain meds viewed by the public as not being > different > > : than any other medication so we can gain better access to them by > more > > : people and then we compare them to a loaded gun? Seems kind of > self > > : defeating. > > : > > : I also don’t believe anyone "deserves to lose their meds" due to > someone > > : else’s illegal actions. > > : > > : Ziggy > > : > > : > > : > > > : > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? > Should > she > > : face > > : > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a > teen > can > > : get > > : > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a > loaded gun > > : > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the > boy’s > > death? > > : > > > : > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > > : > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her > control > > : > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 > year old > > : > : Justin > > : > : took three pills from
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Response:
Wow… this sounds very similar to what we’ve been hearing from the media… killer drug.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I don’t believe necessarily that the kid was on a quest to get high. When > something essentially falls into one’s lap, especially as a teen, why should > they turn it down? I remember that stupidity that comes with the age since > I just got a son through his teens not long ago. If 3 pills killed this > kid, it’s possible he didn’t do this kind of thing regularly, if ever, but > couldn’t turn away a good chance for a high when presented. (although I > concede that we don’t know the strength of the pills and that’s a factor) > Doesn’t anyone here believe that these types of meds SHOULD be locked up as > if they were a loaded gun? There should be NO consequences? What if your > neighbor left her drugs out and YOUR child died from taking them when > visiting their friend? You’d be screaming for blood then! I think that > with a teen, leaving those meds around unguarded and easily accessible is > tantamount to leaving a loaded gun around a six year old. If it was a six > year old who died after the parent left a loaded gun out, would you think > the parent had paid enough already? I sure wouldn’t. There are laws > against doing something that stupid, but it took a lot of kids dying before > the laws were enacted. There aren’t laws, but there sure should be high > expectations from any person entrusted with these kinds of meds, and > consequences if they act like it’s a bottle of vitamin C. > So I guess you all leave your meds accessible to anyone in the house? > Believe me, if you do, you wouldn’t last long as a patient with my pain doc. > There is NO sympathy for lost pills no matter how they are lost. These > pills aren’t toys. People will steal for them, even going so far as to put > a gun in your face. They have a high street value. Anyone who leaves them > where they are easily accessed is irresponsible and should face consequences > because it’s not always where they pay the price of losing their own child. > I don’t even know the woman who did this, so my opinion is hardly going to > be kicking anyone while they are down. I don’t consider prosecuting her > kicking her while she’s down anymore than prosecuting the parents of a child > who died after playing with a loaded gun they left laying around is kicking > them while they are down. I find it entirely plausible that a teen finds a > drug of his mom’s easily accessed and after all the hype on the news, wants > to experiment with it when he never would have otherwise. And perhaps if > he’d not been home experimenting by himself (if that’s the case, since they > don’t say anyone else got any at the time), he would have been told by > others that the dose he wanted to take was too strong for a first-time > attempt and ended up taking less and lived. Yes, this is assuming a lot, > but it’s also assuming a lot that the kid was out to get high come hell or > high water. Not every teen is on a > "I’m-gonna-get-high-one-way-or-the-other" hunt for drugs! Quite a few just > stumble into the opportunity. > — > The Mouse > No cute quote; deal with it. > AIM ID: JSHMTE > ICQ# 9049058 > : I’m sorry, but when are we going to start expecting our teens to behave > and > : NOT abuse someone elses medications? Teens are not STUPID. This kid was > : looking to get high. If his mom didn’t have oxy in the house, don’t you > : think he would just go somewhere else to find drugs? YES HE WOULD. > That’s > : what people who are looking to get high do, t hey keep looking until they > : find something to get high on. This mom did nothing wrong. Put the blame > : where it belongs, on the kid who did what he knew was wrong. And you > can’t > : tell me he didn’t know it was wrong. It’s sad that he paid with his life > : but it was HIS choice to take those pills. It was his choice to take 3 in > : an attempt to get a buzz. > : > : Lori > : > : > : > > : > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she > : face > : > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can > : get > : > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > : > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s > death? > : > > : > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control > : > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old > : > : Justin > : > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed > : > : him. > : > : > : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) > : > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. > : > > : > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is > beyond > : > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control > their > : > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on > vacation > : > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was > : put > : > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain > : > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They > : > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had > to > : > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t > : dismisseed, > : > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any > : reason, > : > they will be dropped. > : > > : > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose > their > : > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to > : > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it > as > : if > : > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! > : > > : > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have > : > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom > : > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also > don’t > : > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for > : someone > : > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period > of > : > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. > : > > : > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC > : > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication > : > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as > the > : > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor > : > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, > : because > : > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left > her > : > OxyC’s easily accessible. > : > > : > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to > : herself > : > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook > : for > : > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home > for > : > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I > : made > : > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived > : with > : > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those > meds > : > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not > : > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. > : > > : > — > : > The Mouse > : > > : > No cute quote; deal with it. > : > AIM ID: JSHMTE > : > ICQ# 9049058 > : > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of > : > : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or > : > : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter > Jennings > : > : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… > : > : > : > : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by > : > : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, > Fla. > : > : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by > : > : highlighting several > : > : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that > : > : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it > would > : > : be unthinkable." > : > : > : > : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News > : > : Thursday, May 3, 2001 > : > : > : > : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC > : > : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the > : > : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many > patients > : > : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** > : > : > : > : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: > : > : > : > : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) > : > : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet > : > : Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. > : > : > : > : Madeleine Thompson (patient) > : > : Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. > : > : > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : > : Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain > : > : killer more effective than morphine. > : > : > : > : Madeleine Thompson > : > : I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. > : > : I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. > : > : > : > : > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : > : In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one
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Response:
If you reread the article it states that the meds were hidden and the son found them. So your placing blame on the mother seems rather harsh. The son was 17 years old… one year away from reaching majority and being able to serve his country and kill people. He wasn’t a small child who didn’t know better. He knew what getting high was about and he stole drugs to achieve that high. Sorry, but not much sympathy for and adult who knows the choices and makes a wrong one. Sure, I’d rather he not be dead… but I’m not ready to crucify his mother for what he did. I was dealing drugs at age 17… so I don’t buy into that he was a naive little child. For me, my OxyContin is just another drug. I keep it with all my other prescription meds. There is a level of responsibility for all prescription meds but I don’t consider opiates to have any higher level of responsibility. I don’t leave my meds laying around in plain sight and that should be good enough. If someone were to steal my prescriptions, then it’s them who did wrong, not me. There are many things in each of our homes that is equally lethal as guns and opiates. We all have cleaning fluids, cans of paint, and other stuff like that. Or how about electricity and gas? More people die from those than opiates… should we not have them around if children are present? Or wouldn’t it be better to teach our children right from wrong and the dangers of misusing cleaning fluids and paint, gas and electricity, guns, and our medications? Or even teach them respect and love. Even though I was a drug addict and a drug dealer, I had enough respect for my mother that I never stole her pain medications… even though I knew exactly what they were and where they were located. There’s no way I’m buying a safe just to keep my OxyContin in. I have stuff in my home that is much more valuable than a few drugs and I don’t lock those up each time I leave. Sure, there is a risk that someone may break into my home and rob me.. but I haven’t bought into the media hype of people coming to my house to rob me only for my Oxy. And any doctor who blames the patient for someone else committing a crime has lost touch with reality. I hope he remembers that when he gets robbed and thinks about filing an insurance claim for his property… he should have kept it all in a safe. Ziggy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Like it or not, these meds ARE dangerous! And if a patient is not acting > responsibly with the meds they are given, no doctor should prescribe them to > that patient. I happen to agree with the policy in my doctor’s office. > We’ve all talked about how we keep our meds protected. I know some here use > safes. Why is that? Certainly not because these meds are safe in the wrong > hands? People know that these meds are highly sought after and terribly > dangerous when kids get them and know nothing about what is safe to take. > Right now, my doc’s office actually had to issue a notice to the patients > because during pain clinic, the parking lot looks like a frigging Actiq > lollipop stick disposal site! Another case of patients acting like idiots > with something dangerous. With even a little medication left on those > sticks, kids and animals could be hurt badly or killed, yet patients were > throwing them down on the ground, some with noticeable meds still left on > them! If any of these patients have small children and use their Actiq so > irresponsibly all the time, a kid is going to die sooner or later. > Sure, we want the right to have pain meds when we suffer from intractable > pain. But with rights come responsibilities. And if a patient can’t act > responsibly with those meds, then they shouldn’t get them no matter how much > pain they are in! I’m not talking about an up front test, but if a patient > getting meds clearly demonstrates they do not even recognize the inherent > danger of leaving these meds laying around when ANY underage child is > around, or when they toss away only partially used medication in public > parking lots or leaves them laying around their home with children in it, > they’ve shown they have their heads way to far up their arses to be trusted > with those meds. There is FAR too much to lose–children’s lives, for > starters. > I disagree, Zig. These meds aren’t just another medication. In principal, > maybe, but in reality they ARE as dangerous as loaded gun when left laying > around on a nightstand when kids are in the house. If someone is going to > get these meds prescribed to them, they need to act responsibly with them, > and that means NOT leaving them laying around on a nightstand hoping a > curious teen will be a good boy. Sure, the kid shouldn’t have taken them, > but he did, and he did it because they were totally and completely > accessible. I don’t think any error a child makes should cost a life! But > this was as much, and more, a mistake made by the mother by handling those > pills as if they were toys. Kids do stupid things as part of their very > nature, which is why they have PARENTS to protect them. This woman blew it. > Those pills aren’t toys or candy. They are LETHAL in the wrong hands, and > that’s a truth that will not change no matter how much spin people want to > put on the meds so they are easier for pain patients to get. > — > The Mouse > No cute quote; deal with it. > AIM ID: JSHMTE > ICQ# 9049058 > : We fight to have our pain meds viewed by the public as not being different > : than any other medication so we can gain better access to them by more > : people and then we compare them to a loaded gun? Seems kind of self > : defeating. > : > : I also don’t believe anyone "deserves to lose their meds" due to someone > : else’s illegal actions. > : > : Ziggy > : > : > : > > : > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she > : face > : > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can > : get > : > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > : > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s > death? > : > > : > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control > : > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old > : > : Justin > : > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed > : > : him. > : > : > : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) > : > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. > : > > : > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is > beyond > : > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control > their > : > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on > vacation > : > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was > : put > : > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain > : > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They > : > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had > to > : > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t > : dismisseed, > : > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any > : reason, > : > they will be dropped. > : > > : > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose > their > : > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to > : > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it > as > : if > : > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! > : > > : > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have > : > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom > : > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also > don’t > : > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for > : someone > : > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period > of > : > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. > : > > : > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC > : > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication > : > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as > the > : > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor > : > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, > : because > : > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left > her > : > OxyC’s easily accessible. > : > > : > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to > : herself > : > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook > : for > : > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home > for > : > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I > : made > : > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived > : with > : > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those > meds > : > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not > : > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. > : > > : > — > : > The Mouse > : > > : > No cute quote; deal with it. > : > AIM ID: JSHMTE > : > ICQ# 9049058 > : > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of > : > : their background can so easily twist
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Response:
Path: lobby!newstf02.news.aol.com!portc01.blue.aol.com!news.stealth.net!news-eas t.rr.com!cyclone.columbus.rr.com!news.rr.com!cyclone-midwest.rr.com!typhoo n.columbus.rr.com.POSTED!not-for-mail Organization: The Lamb’s X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: alt.support.chronic-pain Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 42 NNTP-Posting-Host: 65.24.133.51 X-Trace: typhoon.columbus.rr.com 989591912 65.24.133.51 (Fri, 11 May 2001 10:38:32 EDT) > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman?
Blaming the woman is throwing the baby out with the bath water. Let’s put the responsbility where it really lies, not where it is politically expedient. 1) A patient is not responsbile for the loss of their medication due to the criminal acts of another. Let’s get this clear – the criminal is the person who did the crime, not the victim who suffered the loss. 2) Prescription medicine is not a ‘loaded gun’. A gun is an offensive weapon. Drugs are not. In the case of the teenager who was killed, let’s again be clear. It was the actions of the teenager which got himself killed. A 17 year old purposely abusing their parents meds is an utterly different situation than a 2 year-old who finds some pills and just puts them in their mouth. The 2-year cannot understand what they are doing – a 17 year old clearly is capable for understanding. The woman in this situation is the victim, not the criminal. The only thing the woman is guilty of is poor judgement and of being too trusting. This was unwise behavior on her part, but it was not criminal. And medicine is no more dangerous than a hundred other things we all have laying around in our house. We should not fuel the drug hysteria by setting aside medication as being anything usually dangerous. 3) Leaving a loaded gun laying around is different. If a 17 year-old finds their parent’s gun, puts it to their head and pulls the trigger, the parents are not responsible. They are guilty of poor judgement and bad parenting, but not murder or manslaughter. Now if the teenager takes that gun and kills someone else with it, then the parents are responsible in some way (but still not guilty of murder). My view is that the guilty party is the one who commits the crime and no one else. Keith – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Well said Keith, I agree.
Response:
I think if the media and the competitive drug companies had not created such hype surrounding Oxy….there would not be a problem. Also, what if this kid decided to drink anti-freeze, or sniff glue or took too many Tylenol? Like I always say… You can’t save people from themselves. And blame is lame. Shell – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she face > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can get > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death? > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old > : Justin > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed > : him. > : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is beyond > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control their > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on vacation > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was put > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had to > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t dismisseed, > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any reason, > they will be dropped. > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose their > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it as if > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also don’t > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for someone > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period of > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as the > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, because > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left her > OxyC’s easily accessible. > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to herself > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook for > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home for > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I made > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived with > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those meds > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. > — > The Mouse > No cute quote; deal with it. > AIM ID: JSHMTE > ICQ# 9049058 > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of > : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or > : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings > : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… > : > : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by > : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. > : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by > : highlighting several > : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that > : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would > : be unthinkable." > : > : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News > : Thursday, May 3, 2001 > : > : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC > : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the > : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients > : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** > : > : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: > : > : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) > : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet > : Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. > : > : Madeleine Thompson (patient) > : Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain > : killer more effective than morphine. > : > : Madeleine Thompson > : I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. > : I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. > : > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of > : the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra > : with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the > : government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been > : as > : widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of > : Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of > : fourteen > : people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man > : so > : desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, > : where heroin is hard to come by, users have discovered that by grinding > : the Oxycontin pill or dissolving it, they can get an instant high. > : > : Richard Brashear > : It’s something that no body wants to do. It’s worse than cocaine. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Oxycontin has been marketed heavily by its manufacturer but the > : company insists it has done nothing wrong. > : > : Dr. David Haddox – Purdue Pharmacy > : It’s only when people abuse it – like any prescription drug that > : they run the risk of danger. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Because of the abuse, the government has asked the manufacturer to > : cut back its marketing of the drug. > : But because it’s so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing > : it would be unthinkable. > : > : (Jeffrey Kofman reporting from Fort Lauderdale Florida) > :
Response:
that is so wrong to blame the mother i agree with Lori blame should be on this teen right from wrong he knew and that is true people who want to get high will find a way to do so with anything they can get there hands on thats what they do try any thing to get high no matter what they will find it no matter where it is its all over out there almost every street corner .They can get stuff easier than those in pain,and with out all the hassels that some drs give pain peolpe,its cheaper to get any drugs on the street than to go thru drs.I just hope some day people against helping real suffers get a clue its so sad so many people have to suffer in pain when there is meds to help them get some kind of a life. To those in pain without help please dont give up . jimanlis95 Salem,OR.
Response:
Like it or not, these meds ARE dangerous! And if a patient is not acting responsibly with the meds they are given, no doctor should prescribe them to that patient. I happen to agree with the policy in my doctor’s office. We’ve all talked about how we keep our meds protected. I know some here use safes. Why is that? Certainly not because these meds are safe in the wrong hands? People know that these meds are highly sought after and terribly dangerous when kids get them and know nothing about what is safe to take. Right now, my doc’s office actually had to issue a notice to the patients because during pain clinic, the parking lot looks like a frigging Actiq lollipop stick disposal site! Another case of patients acting like idiots with something dangerous. With even a little medication left on those sticks, kids and animals could be hurt badly or killed, yet patients were throwing them down on the ground, some with noticeable meds still left on them! If any of these patients have small children and use their Actiq so irresponsibly all the time, a kid is going to die sooner or later. Sure, we want the right to have pain meds when we suffer from intractable pain. But with rights come responsibilities. And if a patient can’t act responsibly with those meds, then they shouldn’t get them no matter how much pain they are in! I’m not talking about an up front test, but if a patient getting meds clearly demonstrates they do not even recognize the inherent danger of leaving these meds laying around when ANY underage child is around, or when they toss away only partially used medication in public parking lots or leaves them laying around their home with children in it, they’ve shown they have their heads way to far up their arses to be trusted with those meds. There is FAR too much to lose–children’s lives, for starters. I disagree, Zig. These meds aren’t just another medication. In principal, maybe, but in reality they ARE as dangerous as loaded gun when left laying around on a nightstand when kids are in the house. If someone is going to get these meds prescribed to them, they need to act responsibly with them, and that means NOT leaving them laying around on a nightstand hoping a curious teen will be a good boy. Sure, the kid shouldn’t have taken them, but he did, and he did it because they were totally and completely accessible. I don’t think any error a child makes should cost a life! But this was as much, and more, a mistake made by the mother by handling those pills as if they were toys. Kids do stupid things as part of their very nature, which is why they have PARENTS to protect them. This woman blew it. Those pills aren’t toys or candy. They are LETHAL in the wrong hands, and that’s a truth that will not change no matter how much spin people want to put on the meds so they are easier for pain patients to get. — The Mouse No cute quote; deal with it. AIM ID: JSHMTE ICQ# 9049058
: We fight to have our pain meds viewed by the public as not being different : than any other medication so we can gain better access to them by more : people and then we compare them to a loaded gun? Seems kind of self : defeating. : : I also don’t believe anyone "deserves to lose their meds" due to someone : else’s illegal actions. : : Ziggy : : : > : > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she : face : > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can : get : > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun : > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death? : > : > <cut from therainbow’s post below> : > : Jeffrey Kofman : > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control : > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old : > : Justin : > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed : > : him. : > : : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) : > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. : > : > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is beyond : > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control their : > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on vacation : > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was : put : > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain : > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They : > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had to : > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t : dismisseed, : > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any : reason, : > they will be dropped. : > : > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose their : > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to : > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it as : if : > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! : > : > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have : > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom : > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also don’t : > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for : someone : > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period of : > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. : > : > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC : > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication : > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as the : > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor : > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, : because : > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left her : > OxyC’s easily accessible. : > : > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to : herself : > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook : for : > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home for : > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I : made : > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived : with : > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those meds : > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not : > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. : > : > — : > The Mouse : > : > No cute quote; deal with it. : > AIM ID: JSHMTE : > ICQ# 9049058 : > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of : > : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or : > : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings : > : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… : > : : > : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by : > : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. : > : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by : > : highlighting several : > : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that : > : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would : > : be unthinkable." : > : : > : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News : > : Thursday, May 3, 2001 : > : : > : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC : > : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the : > : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients : > : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** : > : : > : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: : > : : > : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) : > : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet : > : Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. : > : : > : Madeleine Thompson (patient) : > : Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. : > : : > : Jeffrey Kofman : > : Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain : > : killer more effective than morphine. : > : : > : Madeleine Thompson : > : I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. : > : I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. : > : : > : : > : Jeffrey Kofman : > : In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of : > : the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra : > : with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the : > : government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been : > : as : > : widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of : > : Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of : > : fourteen : > : people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man : > : so : > : desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, : > : where heroin is hard to come by, users have discovered that by grinding : > : the Oxycontin pill or dissolving it, they can get an instant high. : > : : > : Richard Brashear : > : It’s something that no body wants to do. It’s worse than cocaine. : > : : > : Jeffrey Kofman : > : Oxycontin has been marketed heavily by its manufacturer but the : > : company insists it has done nothing wrong. : > : : > : Dr. David Haddox – Purdue … read more »
Response:
> What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman?
Blaming the woman is throwing the baby out with the bath water. Let’s put the responsbility where it really lies, not where it is politically expedient. 1) A patient is not responsbile for the loss of their medication due to the criminal acts of another. Let’s get this clear – the criminal is the person who did the crime, not the victim who suffered the loss. 2) Prescription medicine is not a ‘loaded gun’. A gun is an offensive weapon. Drugs are not. In the case of the teenager who was killed, let’s again be clear. It was the actions of the teenager which got himself killed. A 17 year old purposely abusing their parents meds is an utterly different situation than a 2 year-old who finds some pills and just puts them in their mouth. The 2-year cannot understand what they are doing – a 17 year old clearly is capable for understanding. The woman in this situation is the victim, not the criminal. The only thing the woman is guilty of is poor judgement and of being too trusting. This was unwise behavior on her part, but it was not criminal. And medicine is no more dangerous than a hundred other things we all have laying around in our house. We should not fuel the drug hysteria by setting aside medication as being anything usually dangerous. 3) Leaving a loaded gun laying around is different. If a 17 year-old finds their parent’s gun, puts it to their head and pulls the trigger, the parents are not responsible. They are guilty of poor judgement and bad parenting, but not murder or manslaughter. Now if the teenager takes that gun and kills someone else with it, then the parents are responsible in some way (but still not guilty of murder). My view is that the guilty party is the one who commits the crime and no one else. Keith
Response:
I don’t believe necessarily that the kid was on a quest to get high. When something essentially falls into one’s lap, especially as a teen, why should they turn it down? I remember that stupidity that comes with the age since I just got a son through his teens not long ago. If 3 pills killed this kid, it’s possible he didn’t do this kind of thing regularly, if ever, but couldn’t turn away a good chance for a high when presented. (although I concede that we don’t know the strength of the pills and that’s a factor) Doesn’t anyone here believe that these types of meds SHOULD be locked up as if they were a loaded gun? There should be NO consequences? What if your neighbor left her drugs out and YOUR child died from taking them when visiting their friend? You’d be screaming for blood then! I think that with a teen, leaving those meds around unguarded and easily accessible is tantamount to leaving a loaded gun around a six year old. If it was a six year old who died after the parent left a loaded gun out, would you think the parent had paid enough already? I sure wouldn’t. There are laws against doing something that stupid, but it took a lot of kids dying before the laws were enacted. There aren’t laws, but there sure should be high expectations from any person entrusted with these kinds of meds, and consequences if they act like it’s a bottle of vitamin C. So I guess you all leave your meds accessible to anyone in the house? Believe me, if you do, you wouldn’t last long as a patient with my pain doc. There is NO sympathy for lost pills no matter how they are lost. These pills aren’t toys. People will steal for them, even going so far as to put a gun in your face. They have a high street value. Anyone who leaves them where they are easily accessed is irresponsible and should face consequences because it’s not always where they pay the price of losing their own child. I don’t even know the woman who did this, so my opinion is hardly going to be kicking anyone while they are down. I don’t consider prosecuting her kicking her while she’s down anymore than prosecuting the parents of a child who died after playing with a loaded gun they left laying around is kicking them while they are down. I find it entirely plausible that a teen finds a drug of his mom’s easily accessed and after all the hype on the news, wants to experiment with it when he never would have otherwise. And perhaps if he’d not been home experimenting by himself (if that’s the case, since they don’t say anyone else got any at the time), he would have been told by others that the dose he wanted to take was too strong for a first-time attempt and ended up taking less and lived. Yes, this is assuming a lot, but it’s also assuming a lot that the kid was out to get high come hell or high water. Not every teen is on a "I’m-gonna-get-high-one-way-or-the-other" hunt for drugs! Quite a few just stumble into the opportunity. — The Mouse No cute quote; deal with it. AIM ID: JSHMTE ICQ# 9049058
: I’m sorry, but when are we going to start expecting our teens to behave and : NOT abuse someone elses medications? Teens are not STUPID. This kid was : looking to get high. If his mom didn’t have oxy in the house, don’t you : think he would just go somewhere else to find drugs? YES HE WOULD. That’s : what people who are looking to get high do, t hey keep looking until they : find something to get high on. This mom did nothing wrong. Put the blame : where it belongs, on the kid who did what he knew was wrong. And you can’t : tell me he didn’t know it was wrong. It’s sad that he paid with his life : but it was HIS choice to take those pills. It was his choice to take 3 in : an attempt to get a buzz. : : Lori : : : > : > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she : face : > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can : get : > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun : > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death? : > : > <cut from therainbow’s post below> : > : Jeffrey Kofman : > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control : > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old : > : Justin : > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed : > : him. : > : : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) : > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. : > : > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is beyond : > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control their : > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on vacation : > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was : put : > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain : > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They : > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had to : > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t : dismisseed, : > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any : reason, : > they will be dropped. : > : > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose their : > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to : > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it as : if : > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! : > : > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have : > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom : > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also don’t : > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for : someone : > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period of : > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. : > : > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC : > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication : > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as the : > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor : > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, : because : > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left her : > OxyC’s easily accessible. : > : > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to : herself : > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook : for : > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home for : > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I : made : > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived : with : > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those meds : > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not : > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. : > : > — : > The Mouse : > : > No cute quote; deal with it. : > AIM ID: JSHMTE : > ICQ# 9049058 : > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of : > : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or : > : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings : > : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… : > : : > : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by : > : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. : > : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by : > : highlighting several : > : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that : > : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would : > : be unthinkable." : > : : > : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News : > : Thursday, May 3, 2001 : > : : > : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC : > : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the : > : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients : > : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** : > : : > : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: : > : : > : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) : > : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet : > : Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. : > : : > : Madeleine Thompson (patient) : > : Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. : > : : > : Jeffrey Kofman : > : Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain : > : killer more effective than morphine. : > : : > : Madeleine Thompson : > : I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. : > : I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. : > : : > : : > : Jeffrey Kofman : > : In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of : > : the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra : > : with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the : > : government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been : > : as : > : widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of : > : Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of : > : fourteen : > : people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man : > : so : > : desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, : > : where heroin is … read more »
Response:
We fight to have our pain meds viewed by the public as not being different than any other medication so we can gain better access to them by more people and then we compare them to a loaded gun? Seems kind of self defeating. I also don’t believe anyone "deserves to lose their meds" due to someone else’s illegal actions. Ziggy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she face > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can get > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death? > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old > : Justin > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed > : him. > : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is beyond > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control their > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on vacation > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was put > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had to > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t dismisseed, > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any reason, > they will be dropped. > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose their > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it as if > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also don’t > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for someone > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period of > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as the > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, because > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left her > OxyC’s easily accessible. > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to herself > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook for > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home for > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I made > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived with > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those meds > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. > — > The Mouse > No cute quote; deal with it. > AIM ID: JSHMTE > ICQ# 9049058 > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of > : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or > : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings > : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… > : > : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by > : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. > : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by > : highlighting several > : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that > : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would > : be unthinkable." > : > : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News > : Thursday, May 3, 2001 > : > : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC > : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the > : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients > : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** > : > : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: > : > : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) > : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet > : Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. > : > : Madeleine Thompson (patient) > : Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain > : killer more effective than morphine. > : > : Madeleine Thompson > : I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. > : I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. > : > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of > : the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra > : with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the > : government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been > : as > : widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of > : Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of > : fourteen > : people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man > : so > : desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, > : where heroin is hard to come by, users have discovered that by grinding > : the Oxycontin pill or dissolving it, they can get an instant high. > : > : Richard Brashear > : It’s something that no body wants to do. It’s worse than cocaine. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Oxycontin has been marketed heavily by its manufacturer but the > : company insists it has done nothing wrong. > : > : Dr. David Haddox – Purdue Pharmacy > : It’s only when people abuse it – like any prescription drug that > : they run the risk of danger. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Because of the abuse, the government has asked the manufacturer to > : cut back its marketing of the drug. > : But because it’s so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing > : it would be unthinkable. > : > : (Jeffrey Kofman reporting from Fort Lauderdale Florida) > :
Response:
Dear Mouse: While I agree with you on just about every point…don’t you wonder why a teenager who’s Mother is on OxyContin for a horrible pain problem, I assume a horrible pain problem, wouldn’t KNOW if he took her meds that, assuming he hadn’t killed himself, that he would have deprived his own Mother of some pain relief? Okay she was stupid to leave them out but when does this kid’s responsibility begin? He stole from her knowing that he would cause her additional pain just to get high….I am sorry but I think the responsibilty here is 50-50…it’s not like he was a five year old who thought it was candy. This was a teenager who should have known better if for no other reason that to spare his mother pain that his stealing would and did cause her….What a damn shame… Deanie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she face >prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can get >at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun >laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death? ><cut from therainbow’s post below> >: Jeffrey Kofman >: Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control >: the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old >: Justin >: took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed >: him. >: >: Lorraine Horton ( mother) >: Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. >Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is beyond >my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control their >meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on vacation >and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was put >into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain >doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They >knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had to >ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t dismisseed, >but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any reason, >they will be dropped. >Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose their >meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to >learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it as if >she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! >When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have >locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom >door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also don’t >keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for someone >to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period of >time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. >Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC >accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication >stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as the >newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor >system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, because >dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left her >OxyC’s easily accessible. >I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to herself >over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook for >her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home for >the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I made >sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived with >a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those meds >under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not >accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. >– >The Mouse >No cute quote; deal with it. >AIM ID: JSHMTE >ICQ# 9049058 >: It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of >: their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or >: intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings >: should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… >: >: This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by >: Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. >: reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by >: highlighting several >: patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that >: "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would >: be unthinkable." >: >: ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News >: Thursday, May 3, 2001 >: >: Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC >: There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the >: wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients >: swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** >: >: ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: >: >: Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) >: There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet >: Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. >: >: Madeleine Thompson (patient) >: Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. >: >: Jeffrey Kofman >: Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain >: killer more effective than morphine. >: >: Madeleine Thompson >: I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. >: I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. >: >: >: Jeffrey Kofman >: In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of >: the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra >: with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the >: government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been >: as >: widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of >: Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of >: fourteen >: people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man >: so >: desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, >: where heroin is hard to come by, users have discovered that by grinding >: the Oxycontin pill or dissolving it, they can get an instant high. >: >: Richard Brashear >: It’s something that no body wants to do. It’s worse than cocaine. >: >: Jeffrey Kofman >: Oxycontin has been marketed heavily by its manufacturer but the >: company insists it has done nothing wrong. >: >: Dr. David Haddox – Purdue Pharmacy >: It’s only when people abuse it – like any prescription drug that >: they run the risk of danger. >: >: Jeffrey Kofman >: Because of the abuse, the government has asked the manufacturer to >: cut back its marketing of the drug. >: But because it’s so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing >: it would be unthinkable. >: >: (Jeffrey Kofman reporting from Fort Lauderdale Florida) >:
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I’m sorry, but when are we going to start expecting our teens to behave and >NOT abuse someone elses medications? Teens are not STUPID. This kid was >looking to get high. If his mom didn’t have oxy in the house, don’t you >think he would just go somewhere else to find drugs? YES HE WOULD. That’s >what people who are looking to get high do, t hey keep looking until they >find something to get high on. This mom did nothing wrong. Put the blame >where it belongs, on the kid who did what he knew was wrong. And you can’t >tell me he didn’t know it was wrong. It’s sad that he paid with his life >but it was HIS choice to take those pills. It was his choice to take 3 in >an attempt to get a buzz. >Lori > What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she >face > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can >get > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death?
I think it was just a tragic accident, and the woman already paid for it with her son’s life. No need to kick someone when they have already paid the highest price…. — Regards, ~alex
Response:
I’m sorry, but when are we going to start expecting our teens to behave and NOT abuse someone elses medications? Teens are not STUPID. This kid was looking to get high. If his mom didn’t have oxy in the house, don’t you think he would just go somewhere else to find drugs? YES HE WOULD. That’s what people who are looking to get high do, t hey keep looking until they find something to get high on. This mom did nothing wrong. Put the blame where it belongs, on the kid who did what he knew was wrong. And you can’t tell me he didn’t know it was wrong. It’s sad that he paid with his life but it was HIS choice to take those pills. It was his choice to take 3 in an attempt to get a buzz. Lori
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she face > prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can get > at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun > laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death? > <cut from therainbow’s post below> > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control > : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old > : Justin > : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed > : him. > : > : Lorraine Horton ( mother) > : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. > Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is beyond > my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control their > meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on vacation > and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was put > into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain > doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They > knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had to > ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t dismisseed, > but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any reason, > they will be dropped. > Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose their > meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to > learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it as if > she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! > When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have > locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom > door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also don’t > keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for someone > to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period of > time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. > Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC > accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication > stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as the > newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor > system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, because > dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left her > OxyC’s easily accessible. > I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to herself > over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook for > her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home for > the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I made > sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived with > a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those meds > under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not > accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. > — > The Mouse > No cute quote; deal with it. > AIM ID: JSHMTE > ICQ# 9049058 > : It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of > : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or > : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings > : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… > : > : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by > : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. > : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by > : highlighting several > : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that > : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would > : be unthinkable." > : > : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News > : Thursday, May 3, 2001 > : > : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC > : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the > : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients > : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** > : > : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: > : > : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) > : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet > : Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. > : > : Madeleine Thompson (patient) > : Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain > : killer more effective than morphine. > : > : Madeleine Thompson > : I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. > : I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. > : > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of > : the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra > : with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the > : government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been > : as > : widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of > : Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of > : fourteen > : people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man > : so > : desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, > : where heroin is hard to come by, users have discovered that by grinding > : the Oxycontin pill or dissolving it, they can get an instant high. > : > : Richard Brashear > : It’s something that no body wants to do. It’s worse than cocaine. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Oxycontin has been marketed heavily by its manufacturer but the > : company insists it has done nothing wrong. > : > : Dr. David Haddox – Purdue Pharmacy > : It’s only when people abuse it – like any prescription drug that > : they run the risk of danger. > : > : Jeffrey Kofman > : Because of the abuse, the government has asked the manufacturer to > : cut back its marketing of the drug. > : But because it’s so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing > : it would be unthinkable. > : > : (Jeffrey Kofman reporting from Fort Lauderdale Florida) > :
Response:
What do the rest of you think should be done to this woman? Should she face prosecution? Is leaving a bottle of OxyC laying around where a teen can get at it and therefore causing his death the same as leaving a loaded gun laying around, making this woman legally responsible for the boy’s death? <cut from therainbow’s post below> : Jeffrey Kofman : Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control : the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old : Justin : took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed : him. : : Lorraine Horton ( mother) : Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. Why this woman didn’t keep her meds locked up in the first place is beyond my comprehension. Right now, patients who do not adequately control their meds are subject to dismissal in our office. One patient went on vacation and a friend of the family ripped off their OxyContin. The patient was put into full-blown withdrawal. The patient is lucky they still have a pain doctor to see after what happened, and they are fully aware of it. They knew better than to ask to come in early to get meds refilled–they had to ride out the withdrawal, and that’s the only reason they weren’t dismisseed, but if the office learns of the patient losing any more meds for any reason, they will be dropped. Anyone leaving their meds unlocked and unsupervised deserves to lose their meds. In the case of this mother whose son died, it’s a harsh lesson to learn. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if law enforcement DOES treat it as if she left a loaded gun laying on her bed and arrest her! When it comes to my meds, I’m like Fox Mulder. I trust NO ONE! I have locking cabinets, I keep meds WELL-hidden and have a lock on my bedroom door. I even just had an alarm system installed last month. I also don’t keep all my meds in one place, so it would be nearly impossible for someone to get all my meds in a theft, let alone find them in the short period of time it would take for the cops to arrive after the alarm is tripped. Anyone with a teen should know better than to leave meds like OxyC accessible! What did this woman think? That she could have medication stronger than morphine that’s being hyped on the news at every turn as the newest high and her teen would not touch it because he’s on the honor system? She clearly knew that leaving guns laying around was wrong, because dangerous things have an almost magnetic appeal to teens, but she left her OxyC’s easily accessible. I’m sure that no one can say anything to her that she hasn’t said to herself over the loss of her child, but I don’t think that gets her off the hook for her role in his death. I’ve had prescriptions painkillers in my home for the past two decades. While I never went to the extreme I go to now, I made sure they weren’t accessible to my son. After my son grew up, I lived with a friend for a while who had a wild teenager, and I STILL kept those meds under wraps at all times. Now I live alone and my meds are STILL not accessible by visitors OR by unwanted visitors such as burglars. — The Mouse No cute quote; deal with it. AIM ID: JSHMTE ICQ# 9049058
: It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of : their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or : intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings : should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… : : This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by : Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. : reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by : highlighting several : patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that : "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would : be unthinkable." : : ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News : Thursday, May 3, 2001 : : Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC : There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the : wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients : swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** : : ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: : : Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) : There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet : Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. : : Madeleine Thompson (patient) : Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. : : Jeffrey Kofman : Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain : killer more effective than morphine. : : Madeleine Thompson : I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. : I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. : : : Jeffrey Kofman : In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of : the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra : with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the : government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been : as : widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of : Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of : fourteen : people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man : so : desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, : where heroin is hard to come by, users have discovered that by grinding : the Oxycontin pill or dissolving it, they can get an instant high. : : Richard Brashear : It’s something that no body wants to do. It’s worse than cocaine. : : Jeffrey Kofman : Oxycontin has been marketed heavily by its manufacturer but the : company insists it has done nothing wrong. : : Dr. David Haddox – Purdue Pharmacy : It’s only when people abuse it – like any prescription drug that : they run the risk of danger. : : Jeffrey Kofman : Because of the abuse, the government has asked the manufacturer to : cut back its marketing of the drug. : But because it’s so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing : it would be unthinkable. : : (Jeffrey Kofman reporting from Fort Lauderdale Florida) :
Response:
It no longer amazes me how irresponsible any reporter, regardless of their background can so easily twist the truth, be it by accident or intentionally. The following is a good example and IMHO, Peter Jennings should be called on this one. The ***’s are mine… This is a transcript from the May 3 ABC World News Tonight segment by Peter Jennings along side Jeffrey Kofman on site in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. reported on the "fiercely addictive" OxyContin. The report begins by highlighting several patients that benefit from the use of the drug and mentions that "because its so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would be unthinkable." ABC World News Tonight – 6:30 PM National News Thursday, May 3, 2001 Anchor, Peter Jennings, ABC There is a prescription pain killer in the news today for all the wrong reasons. OxyContin is a best seller as drugs go and many patients swear by it. ***But it turns out to be fiercely addictive.*** ABC’s Jeffrey Kofman reports from Florida: Jeffrey Kofman – reporter (reporting from Fort Lauderdale, Florida) There are few cancers more excruciating than pancreatic cancer, yet Madeleine Thompson is almost pain free. Madeleine Thompson (patient) Today it’s here–right through here, like under the ribcage. Jeffrey Kofman Twice a day Thompson is taking Oxycontin – a time released pain killer more effective than morphine. Madeleine Thompson I can carry on a relatively normal life. I can exercise moderately. I can eat what I want and I owe that all to really Oxycontin. Jeffrey Kofman Lorraine Horton was also a fan of Oxycontin. It helps her control the pain of a herniated disc. But on Easter weekend her 17 year old Justin took three pills from her bedside for a high, like heroin. It killed him. Lorraine Horton ( mother) Lock it up! Treat it as if it was a loaded gun laying on your bed. Jeffrey Kofman In just five years on the market, Oxycontin has simply become one of the best selling brand name drugs in the world. Even outselling Viagra with sales last year of over a billion dollars. According to the government, no new prescription drug in the last twenty years has been as widely abused, as quickly, as Oxycontin. In Palm Beach alone abuse of Oxycontin – or its base Oxycodone – is suspected in the death of fourteen people in the last month. A security camera in Cleveland caught one man so desperate for Oxycontin, he held up a pharmacy. And in rural Kentucky, where heroin is hard to come by, users have discovered that by grinding the Oxycontin pill or dissolving it, they can get an instant high. Richard Brashear It’s something that no body wants to do. It’s worse than cocaine. Jeffrey Kofman Oxycontin has been marketed heavily by its manufacturer but the company insists it has done nothing wrong. Dr. David Haddox – Purdue Pharmacy It’s only when people abuse it – like any prescription drug that they run the risk of danger. Jeffrey Kofman Because of the abuse, the government has asked the manufacturer to cut back its marketing of the drug. But because it’s so effective for so many in severe pain, outlawing it would be unthinkable. (Jeffrey Kofman reporting from Fort Lauderdale Florida)
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