Pubdate: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 Source: Salisbury Post (NC) Copyright: 2003 Post Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.salisburypost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/380 Author: Katie Scarvey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) OXYCONTIN MANUFACTURER HELPS FIGHT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE By Katie Scarvey, Salisbury Post Aaron Graham wears a suit these days and is comfortable in company boardrooms, but he still remembers the old days when he was living in Guadalajara, Mexico, helping Colombian drug smugglers. Well, pretending to help them, anyway. Graham worked for the United States government as an undercover narcotics agent, giving drug smugglers logistical help with landing strips and radio communications. Later, he worked for the government to combat prescription drug fraud and diversion north of the border. Now, Graham uses his expertise in the private sector. Last August, in the wake of negative publicity about OxyContin, its best-selling narcotic, Purdue Pharma hired Graham to head up its corporate security division. As part of his job, Graham works with law enforcement and medical professionals to fight the problem of prescription drug diversion. Purdue Pharma is dedicated to ensuring that OxyContin is used in the proper way by people who need it for pain relief, Graham says. The company never anticipated that people would crush and snort the drug, he says. Once they realized that diversion and abuse had become a problem, the company became actively involved in taking the criminal element out of the equation, Graham says. And that's where his experience comes into play. "As a narcotics agent, I knew that we never had enough money to make buys or pay informants," he says. "I knew that if I could put additional resources in the hands of the guys on the street, they could be more successful." He's not sure of the exact figure, but Purdue Pharma has spent probably a million dollars this past year, not counting salaries, on fighting prescription drug abuse. "We're getting great results," says Graham, adding that law enforcement officers have been very appreciative of Purdue Pharma's support. One officer who appreciates Purdue Pharma's involvement is Ernest Kirchin, who has worked with the vice and narcotics unit of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department since 1994. He's one of two full-time investigators dealing with pharmaceutical diversion in the Charlotte area. "Purdue Pharma has stepped forward and said 'If there is a problem, we want to do something about it,' " Kirchin says. "I have never heard of a pharmaceutical company that manufactures hydrocodone (the drug in Lortab, Lorcet and Vicadin) ask if they can assist us the way that Purdue has," says Kirchin, who adds that hydrocodone diversion is a bigger problem in the Charlotte area than oxycodone diversion. Besides giving money to law enforcement, Purdue Pharma provides training around the country to teach doctors and pharmacists how to recognize a doctor shopper or a drug seeker, he says. Purdue Pharma also developed and funded RxPATROL, an initiative started several months ago to help improve pharmacy security and identify pharmacy robbers. RxPATROL allows pharmacy personnel to submit a comprehensive theft report to a secure Internet Web site. RxPATROL will analyze information gained from the Web site and disseminate the information to law enforcement agencies. Kirchin says that the Web site will be valuable to law enforcement officers once the data starts rolling in. Purdue Pharma has also invested millions in the development of an abuse-resistant formulation of OxyContin. Although that goal hasn't been met yet, the company is committed to making it happen, Graham says. While Graham wants to help Purdue Pharma do all it can to prevent prescription drug abuse, people are ultimately accountable for their own actions, he believes. "People have abused prescription drugs for years. OxyContin is just the drug du jour." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh