Pubdate: Wed, 12 May 2004 Source: Citizens' Voice, The (Wilkes-Barre, PA) Copyright: 2004 The Citizens' Voice Contact: http://www.citizensvoice.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1334 Author: Gene Skordinski, Citizens' Voice Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/purdue+pharma Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/add+officers ATTORNEY GENERAL HITS DRUGMAKER'S NEW PRODUCT State Attorney General Jerry Pappert was in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday warning area residents of the possible wave of prescription drug addictions and overdoses in Pennsylvania. He also spoke out on the dangers from the possible introduction of a time-released, highly addictive form of synthetic morphine, known as Palladone, which is being researched and manufactured by Purdue Pharma, the same company the introduced OxyContin. He also accused Purdue Pharma of not living up to its public commitments to reformulate OxyContin with an anti-abuse drug. Pappert has been traveling across the commonwealth to explain the growing problem of prescription drug abuse in the state. Pappert said his office is hiring additional agents and is asking the legislature to toughen the law for those who illegally obtain and sell prescription drugs. "Last year, the Luzerne County coroner reported that there were 38 overdose deaths in Luzerne County where prescription drugs were found to have contributed, in part, to the deaths," said Pappert. He added in 2002, the coroners reported 49 Luzerne County residents and 38 Lackawanna County residents died because of an overdose involving prescription drugs. "Prescription drug abuse accounts for nearly 30 percent of the overall drug addiction problem in the United States," said Pappert. He pointed out that prescription drug abuse has not had the same social stigma as the addiction to street drugs such as heroine or cocaine. Many people do not start out attempting to get addicted to the drugs but become addicts after improperly or over prescribed medication by a physician. "We need to attach a stigma to this drug abuse," said Pappert. Some of the abused prescription drugs are opioids and opiates or painkillers. Among the widely known drugs are OxyContin, Percocet, Dolphine (methadone) Actig (fenetanyl) and Vicoden. Also, the anti-anxiety drugs Xanax and Valium. Pappert explained drug diversion cases fall into several categories: Physicians who illegally sell prescriptions to drug abusers or dealers, prescription forgery, doctor-shopping schemes that involve patients going from doctor to doctor until they get the prescription they need, pharmacist or pharmacy employees who fill fraudulent prescriptions, thefts from pharmacies and hospitals, and people who steal drugs from legitimate prescription holders. Pappert concluded his one-hour presentation with the media warning of the new highly addictive pain killing drugs such as generic OxyContin and Palladone. He explained Palladone has been approved by the FDA and is four times more potent than Oxycodone and morphine. "If taken intravenously, Palladone is six to seven times more potent than morphine," said Pappert. He warned marketing practices by manufacturers must be closely scrutinized by law enforcement agencies. Pappert was critical of Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin and Palladone. He stated: "We were told in April 2001 that they were aggressively researching adding anti-abuse ingredients to OxyContin, which would make the drug non-effective if a tablet was crushed and then snorted or taken intravenously by an abuser. "The drug was expected to be ready in about three years. It is now three years later, and Purdue Pharma is currently stating in press reports that the drug development is 10 to 12 years away. They are working on a timetable that is financially best for them." Pappert said that as part of his commitment to combating the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, eight new drug diversion BNI agents have been added to the his office. Two agents are now assigned to the Wilkes-Barre office. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin