Dangers of OxyContin Presented to the FDA

With the number of people abusing and becoming addicted to OxyContin rising at an alarming rate, addiction experts are warning the FDA that action needs to be taken to address the problem.

Steve Hayes, director of Novus Medical Detox Center, and Larry Golbom, host of Prescription Addiction Radio, testified before the FDA on May 27, 2009 about the need to impose Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategies on opioids like OxyContin.

During the testimony, Golbom explained that the molecular structure of oxycodone (the active ingredient of OxyContin) is nearly identical to heroin and that the effects are practically the same. He also stated that Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, has been convicted of lying to the public and doctors about the addictive qualities of OxyContin. In addition, he introduced the website www.BanOxycontin.com and read testimonies from people who have been directly affected by OxyContin, including losing loved ones because of it.

Steve Hayes stated that according to the Center for Disease Control, every six minutes someone goes to the emergency room because of opioid overdose; every hour, someone dies from an opioid overdose. He remarked that this meant that during the hearing, 40 people went to the emergency room and four people died because of opioids.

According to Hayes, OxyContin is interchangeable with heroin. Many of his patients at Novus Medical Detox Center tell him that when they couldn’t get OxyContin they used heroin but that they preferred OxyContin because of its purity. Another patient told him that he was upset with OxyContin because it was competition for heroin (which he used to sell) and forced the price of heroin down.

“If heroin is illegal, why is OxyContin legal?” Hayes asked.

When asked if banning OxyContin would simply prompt addicts to move to another opioid, Hayes replied, “The opioids and oxycodone have important but limited use in medicine. The real question is if the FDA is going to continue to reward an admitted criminal company like Purdue Pharma by allowing them to continue to sell this form of legal heroin. Purdue Pharma’s lies have been implicated in killing many thousands and devastated the lives of tens of thousands more.”

Hayes and Golbom then reminded people to visit www.BanOxycontin.com to get the facts and let the FDA and drug companies know that this dangerous drug needs to be off pharmacy shelves and off the street.

Learn more about Oxycontin and Oxycodone Addiction

Tags: FDA