Pubdate: Sun, 12 Feb 2006
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2006 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact:  http://www.boston.com/globe/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author:  Radley Balko, Policy analyst, Cato Institute, Washington
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n152/a02.html?289783

ACCIDENTAL ADDICTION CAN BE OVERSTATED

IN AN otherwise laudable editorial on the sad plight of Richard Paey, 
the Globe reported  Middlesex County District Attorney Martha Coakley 
as having said that there is a  problem of prescription drug users 
becoming addicted to substances like  OxyContin.

This is a common and unfortunate misconception. The medical 
literature overwhelmingly shows that so-called accidental addiction 
is rare. For example,  Dr. Russell Portenoy of Beth Israel Medical 
Center in New York found that of 25,000 cancer patients being treated 
with opiate therapy, just seven became addicted. Obviously, one 
wouldn't expect a district attorney to be up on all the medical 
literature. But the fact that we don't expect such knowledge from our 
law-enforcement officials is a pretty convincing argument against 
letting police and prosecutors determine what is and isn't acceptable 
medical treatment.

RADLEY BALKO

Policy analyst, Cato Institute

Washington
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman