Pubdate: Sun, 12 Oct 2003
Source: Daily Independent, (Ashland, KY)
Copyright: 2003 The Daily Independent, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573
Author: J.D. Blair

PAIN PILLS ARE BIGGEST DRUG PROBLEM IN AREA

Times have changed and drugs have changed. As we Americans stand and defend 
our country and wait for a better economy, a dark shadow looms over our 
country.

The war on drugs began with the prohibition era of the 1920s. Today, the 
Drug Enforcement Agency has become the main federal drug fighting power. 
The DEA has become the strongest force against a Republican country's view 
of what is wrong.

Rural America is facing a big drug problem and it's not drugs taken with a 
needle or smoked. Pain medication is prescribed on a dally basis.

Studies show that far more pain pills are consumed in Eastern Kentucky than 
in large cities. How could these be so prominent in a small, rural area?

The problem is large pharmaceutical companies have created pain medication 
like OyxContin, which one Kentucky man dubbed "hillbilly heroin." The pain 
pill industry has pushed and marketed their products on television and in 
magazine ads. In some cases, they have even offered a percentage for 
doctors willing to prescribe their addictive medications.

The drug problem as it exists in Kentucky is about paying for a corrupt 
medical industry.

J.D. Blair

Ashland
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