State senator calls for investigation into prescriptions (doctor shopping for Oxy)

Sun-Sentinel (SoFla) ^ | December 3 2003 | By Bob Mahlburg and Doris Bloodsworth

[witnesstothefall]

TALLAHASSEE · The head of the Florida Senate's health committee said Tuesday he is requesting a legislative investigation into doctors who overprescribe the powerful prescription painkiller OxyContin.

-snip-

Gov. Jeb Bush on Tuesday directed his drug czar James McDonough to "lay the groundwork for a comprehensive solution to this fatal and expensive form of drug abuse" during a meeting set for Dec. 12 with several state agency heads and Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Among the issues Bush cited in a letter to McDonough was "doctor shopping and pharmacy hopping," suspect Internet pharmacy sales, adulteration and illegal importation of prescription drugs "and other various allegations of illegalities."

[witnesstothefall]

For anybody thinking Rush is an isolated case, illicit Oxycontin trafficking and abuse is at epidemic proportions.

What I haven't seen mentioned on numerous threads here, is one of the main reasons Oxy's become such a popular street drug.

People snap open the capsule and snort the contents. It is said it's "better" than heroin using this method.

At any rate, the article describes how Rush's home state is trying to grapple with the issues.

[CobaltBlue]

As I understand it, another reason that oxycontin is popular is that it's easy to become addicted to it, and hard to kick, kind of like crack. Which may just be another way of saying that it has a really great rush, that is, that the pleasure is so intense that users don't want to stop using it. Or it may actually do something different than other drugs do.

Whatever, I don't want to ever try it.

[witnesstothefall]

another reason that oxycontin is popular is that it's easy to become addicted to it, and hard to kick

That would make it particularly popular among the dealers, who always prefer a "regular" customer to a lot of turnover.

LEA's across the nation are struggling with this. A lot of folks are dropping dead of overdoses from what apologists like to call "legal" drugs like Oxy.

[corkoman]

As I understand it, another reason that oxycontin is popular is that it's easy to become addicted to it, and hard to kick, kind of like crack

No, the reason its popular is that it is an effective product. Its sustained release of oxycodone provides 12 hours of pain relief and allows the patient to forgo taking several standard oxycodone tablets throught that time.

Reefer Madness morons like this witch hunter make effective clinical treatment of patients in pain all the more difficult. In general doctors UNDERtreat pain partly out of fear of witch hunters like this.

Stay healthy.

[Erik Latranyi]

The OTC drug abuse problem is HUGE.

The demand for painkillers for recreational use is HUGE.

The demand for painkillers for pain relief is HUGE.

The problem cannot be solved by another drug-war.

[corkoman]

good points - and not enough nannies to hover over everyone.

Folks should be provided the best info on drugs and be repsonible for their own well being. If someone injures themselves or failes to cure themselves its their responsibilty.

Medical savings accounts are the only answer to get folks to take matters into their own hands and learn how to stay healthy. Now there is little incentive due to all the 3rd party payers.

People like Rush with chronic pain can either seek more extensive surgical treatment or eat opiates every day. Each has its own risks and benefits. We should be able to decide and not fear witch hunters and Woddie Church Ladies.