good oldE daddy warbucks just back from making money off 9/11 expands into the drug industry.

My nephew died at the age of 23 in November from Oxycottin! This drug has killed 6 teens this year in our small town Thousand Oaks, Ca.

As a former New Yorker, I never found much to admire in Guiliani, certainly not his trying to kick his wife and children out of Gracie Mansion (the Mayor's House in NYC)to install his mistress and nothing that has been learned about his not-so-clean dealings has changed my mind. He has had his fingers in many a dirty pot.

Rudy, ever the friend of Repup slimebags, was just helping Rush maintain his supply of OxyContin. Without that drug, Limbaugh might lapse into reality - or even sanity - and then the right-wing would lose their "voice". Rudy just couldn't let that happen to his pal.

My husband was given Oxycontin for severe back pain and surgury without any warning of the addiction. He suffered stroke like syptoms and had to quit work because of brain damage, and other physical disabilities. He also had to endure drug rehab which was very degrading and painful. I believe that the manufacturer should take responsibility for their greed. They developed the drug for terminally ill people, but were not making enough money on that issue, so they decided to use it for a pain killer. Well it has ruined our lives.

'Breaking news'?...Are you kidding? Was this a secret? Are we to believe that if Giuliani has met with disreputable people at any point in his life, he's tainted? As the head of Giuliani Partners, a PR/consulting firm, you tend to have clients that need help with their image...generally something is wrong if they need such a firm.

He was also a prosecutor...so I guess Brian Ross & Co. will soon have 'Breaking News' that Giuliani had at one time met with prostitutes, murderers and gamblers.

Giuliani is another sleazy politician. Limbaugh joins him. Limbaugh tells first wife he is divorcing her while she is in the hospital. Giuliani has no sense of honor either -- he kicks wife and children out -- installs his mistress and then runs around touting his family values. I am disgusted by him and his like-minded friends. And now Giuliani wants to be president - give me a break. Americans deserve better.

Americans DO deserve better.

Unfortunately, we get the worst.

Watch your nightly news, and count the number of drug-commercials you see.

Blame the republicans, Fine. They are not the ones throwing it in your faces every 10 minutes during the commercial breaks.

My dad was prescribed oxycodine aka OxyContin for a rheumatory problem (not at all terminal) in 2002. After 4 years on the medication he died in his sleep at the age of 43. I'm not a DR. so I can't clinicly blame the drug for his early death, but I can remember him saying many times that he wished he had never started taking it. He said "IT" had a hold on him like nothing he had ever experienced. Along with countless others, OxyContin ruined our lives.

As a person who had unsuccesful back surgey in 2007 and have been taking prescribed Oxycontin ever since and am able to continue to work (rather than be forced to quit, sign-up for disability and have to live off of the tax payers) due to the daily doses of Oxycontin, knowing full well that I am physically and mentally addicted to the medication I still would rather be able to function as a meaningful member of society than to do otherwise. And, no my job is in Engineering, not behind the counter at McDonalds! Unlike what most people think it does not make you completely stupid. I could not do my job or much else without it! Yes, it's addictive, however the thought of having it removed from the market makes my blood boil!!! It is a great drug for those of us who actually need it...

Perhaps the law firm Hilary's a partner in would be a a better choice; more honest in their dealings.

Troy M., It pains me to say this, but give it time. Anyone I know to have ever taken it for any period of time has paid the price for it. If have hopes for a long and happy future, please find an alternative.

Federal officials say the company, Purdue Frederick, helped to trigger a nationwide epidemic of addiction to the time-release painkiller by failing to give early warnings that it could be abused.

IT IS A NARCOTIC PEOPLE!!!! WHY SHOULD THE PUBLIC BE FORWARNED THAT IT IS ADDICTIVE! ALL NARCOTICS ARE AND CAN BE ADDICTIVE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH ADDICTIVE TENDENCIES. THIS IS ANOTHER WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

Drug companies started running all these TV ads in 1997 when the Clinton administration loosened up restrictions on that kind of advertising. Before that, no prescription meds were allowed to be advertised on TV in the U.S. Don't blame the Republicans for this mess.

Let's see, Guiliani fronts for a
dubious drug that harms people.
Plus, he is loves to dress in
women's clothese, plus his family
cannot support his effort, etc.
AND HE IS THE REPUBLICAN FRONT
RUNNER FOR PRESIDENT???

Lord, I sincerely hope, as a
Democrat, that he is the eventual
Republican standard bearer in
11/2008. And that the Republicans
continue voting for the Iraq War.
We will sweep Congress and the Presidency.

Thank you Howard, these politicos-wanna-bees just blame everything on the republicans without even thinking. (Hmmm, I wonder where that comes from...)

It's like, democrats and the news media haven't made a penny off of drugs like these.

What a crock, next time, try looking out of BOTH eyes, instead of just your left or just your right.

This affects EVERYBODY and EVERY politician has a MORAL obligation to stop these destructive drugs, but a POLITICAL obligation to defend them.

I have been on the drug for nearly 2 1/2 years, both IR and the ER, up to 150 mg a day, and I am still on it, trying to wean myself off of it. Realizing it is addictive is there anybody who has kicked the drug/habit out there.
I too am an engineer and just coming off back surgery, and agree with my colegue, from the perspective in the drug had helped me function up until the back became so bad I had to get operated on.
For those of you who never had such pain it is easy to condemn but for people living with pain day to day and be expected to function it was what was required to survive.
I would be glad to trade situations with anyone out there just one day to live pain free and see what it feels like than to be addicted to something like this.
Enough said as it is to sit on the side lines and speak of this drug if it were anything than what it is, it is and will allways be a very powerful addictive pain drug.
There is no free ride in this world, and you have to pay the piper sometime.

Gee, I wonder if McCain...or some of the other Republican candidates...might mention this during the campaign? Hey, at least it doesn't have anything to do with Iraq or 9-11!

The Republican Front Runner is Ron Paul, get it straight.

anyone who spent a fortune going to med school should know this and should have informed their patients about it.I agree with Phyllis! I'm sorry that Speakout has lost her/his father due to the negligence of the Company and his Doctor.

Speakout2007 has finally represented the people who have had beneficial experience with Oxycontin, or Oxycodone ER (for extended release). I had a 7 hour operation in 2003, a 3 level laminectomy and fusion on my lumbar spine. My pain before the surgery was horrific, after the surgery the pain became unendurable. Because of other physical ailments I am limited in what pain medication I can take. I have been taking Oxycontin daily since 2003, and without it I would be bedridden and possibly dead from the horrendous pain I would suffer on an hour to hour basis. With the Oxycontin I am able to do lite-shopping, laudry, housechores, and live a partially functional and social life. Why should I have to suffer the loss of such an important medication because others were not properly advised of the possibly deeply addictive properties of Oxycontin. I was also prescribed Xanax in 1998 and had a severe withdrawal from it when it made my behavior unstable. The doctor who prescribed it failed to warn me of the intensity of the addiction that Xanax causes, thus my trust was violated by the doctor who prescribed the Xanax. I suspect this is the case with prescribing Oxycontin.

I recently had open heart surgery and was given Oxycontin. I found it to be no more efffective than Lortab. I personally don't understand the flap about addiction. I believe that most people who are addicted to it are abusers and therefore deserve no more attention then those on crack.

I agree with Louise. As a New Yorker during the Guiliani years, there wasn't much to be excited about and it went downhill very fast. If it weren't for 9/11, Guiliani, or as most NYers referred to him, GHOULIANI, would be in a retirement home and forgotten. He's crooked as they come and more dubious than people like to admit. It's of no surprise that he and Kerik have their hands in this.

You are right at least Republicans Have backbones, and can be find unlike the Democrats are wolves dressed in sheep cloth.
You think about it. Once you really see the Democrats for what they are you will realized how much energy you lost following those that want to pull out out of conflict like Vietnam...Yea, I remember they where Democrats back then, again no backbone.
I said this again, this is liberal media.
For the record this media does not speak for me.
Just like the recent congress does not speak for me.

If you guys are sick and tired of this kind of crap from the "top tier" candidates, I ask that you look into an old-world Republican who is in the running this year. His name is Ron Paul, check him out. He at least deserves to be heard.

It is interesting to me that the FDA's own information about OxyContin is that concerns of addiction should not prevent patients from takig OxyContin. Maybe the FDA would like to make certain it too represents this drug properly. The government doesn't seem all that concerned with its own misstatements.
They state: OxyContin is only intended for moderate to severe pain that is present on a daily basis and that requires a very strong pain reliever. Patients with this type of severe pain condition require daily pain treatment. Taking OxyContin daily can result in physical dependence, a condition in which the body shows signs of narcotic withdrawal if the OxyContin is stopped suddenly. This is not the same thing as addiction, which represents a situation in which people obtain and take narcotics because of a psychological need, and not just to treat a legitimate painful condition. Physical dependence can be treated by slowly under the advice of a physician by slowing decreasing the OxyContin dose when it is no longer needed for the treatment of pain. Concerns of addiction should not prevent patients with appropriate pain conditions from using OxyContin or other narcotics for pain relief."

Breaking news??--ABC is a sleazy news org for this sensational hit piece. Giuliani's company represented a client in its attempt to deal with its relationship with the government. It's how business works. Just like hiring an accountant or an attorney. Anyone who does not see this as a smear is pretty naive.

When a "company" in the USA pleads gulity to any charge brought before them, It's usualy just to end the matter. Companys are in the busniess of making money and if it cost less to plead gulty they will end of story. What idoit dosent know pain killers are usualy additive.

I am a cronic pain suffer as a result from a car accident. I suffer from back pain and musle spasms. I been using oxcodone for year as prescribe by a pain managment. If you take the medicine as describe on the bottle, you will not get addicted. Oxicotin should not be crush or chewed as indicated on the bottle. It is a time release drug that releases small doseges at a time. oxicotin can be very toxic if you chew or crush or snort. The doctors should not be blamed for the action of a dumb patiant who abuse it.
I agree with speakout2007
" do not punish the legitamate recipents of the most important and powerful pain management drug.

Umm....so what?

To beth and speakout2007,

If that is your stance, that "Since it is good for me, keep it legal, regardless of how many people abuse it..."

What are your views on medicinal marijuana, or medicinal cocaine?

My point is, just because it helps some people, doesn't give the pharmaceutical companies the right to sell it to ANYBODY and EVERYBODY

It also means, that it does NOT give ABC the right to PUSH these drugs on everybody. ESPECIALLY children.

The MSM pushes these drugs onto your sons and daughters. There will be a time, very soon, where you will NOT be able to say 'No'.

Add me to the list of accident survivors who would be in unbearable pain without Oxycontin. Yes, I know it's addictive. So? It stops my pain, that's all that matters to me. I can live a semi normal life thanks to this pain killer. You can't legislate stupidity.

I work in a jail as a nurse. You would be amazed at the amount of males and females that are arrested for having oxycontin (percocet) and rococet (percocet). I call them the oxy/roxy people. They all claim to have some type of pain, but, obtain their pain meds off the street, and not at their doctor. In jail they survive on Motrin and Tylenol, and do not look as if they are in pain. Infact, they all go out for recreation.

I don't understand why 9/11 made Guiliani such a hero to Americans outside NYC. All he did was make the sorts of sympathetic statements that Miss Manners would recommend following a death. Perhaps not sitting stunned like a deer in the headlights listening to a reading of My Pet Goat is all it takes to be a hero to Americans?

I was prescribed the medication for severe back pain. I took just one and the reaction was out of this world. I called my doctor to say 'this is not for me'. So disgusting how low people can go for the sake of money.

I begged and begged my Doctor to put me on Oxycontin due to uncontrollable back pain because the pain was unbearable...!

I stayed on this drug for over two years until I finally found a surgeon who would agree to do my delicate back surgery and relieve my pain...

That was over 5 years ago... I'll admit it took awhile to get off of Oxycontin.. BUT IT ALSO SAVED MY LIFE...!

So... leave people alone that need this drug. I'm talking about the ones that really need it and don’t abuse it! Believe me I've when I say it saved my life.

After my back surgury from an auto accident, I was put on OxyContin to help with my severe pain. Two years later, I'm forced into drug rehab to try to kick this. I think I'm gonna be ok I think. I had no idea that this drug was so addictive, now I know first hand just how addictive it is. But with little or no relief to my cronic pain, I don't know what I'm going to do, all I have is my faith in GOD to help get me through this.

Those that blame this on political parties are short sited and destined for a let down in life....Individuals abuse drugs...not Companies, not politicians...

Get a life!

I am a retired prosecutor still in touch with some of the things happening in my home town. To cut to the quick, I can't speak directly to Rudy's involvement in foisting this drug on an unsuspecting market of persons in need of an effective pain killer, but to say I know of a case of a person in recovery, who took some OxyContin. He relapsed BIG TIME and entered an apartment and beat an older senior citizen up severely for some money or property or some other reason that probably made sense at the time, but he couldn't name today. The offender is now doing some serious felony time in a New York State Correctional facility. And his wife, a very good person, supported him through good times and bad, well, this didn't do her marriage much good, either.
I'm not sure there is a fine or punishment for individuals in positions to do so much harm to so many people which is enough to have them feel some sense of the harm they've caused. And they do it in the guise of 'helping' and making people better. They must take their prompts on creative publicity from the utilities industry and the major oil companies, only concerned about our future and the environment. Yeah...and little babies, too.
The point is, perhaps less Rudy's involvement in this drug or his choice of police commissioner who was shady or his lack of family values, I don't trust him. Do you?

Well now we know who Rush is going to campaign for -- Rudy Giuliani!

"I'm Waiting For the Man" makes for a neat campaign song.

Oxycontin is a good drug when used properly.I have had three back surgeries in the past seven years. without it, I would be unable to get out of bed . It does needto betaken as advised but layoff the critisism until you have walked in the shoes of someone with chronic pain.

Corporations,as well as medical and legal professionals are forever touting their ability to self-police. I'd sure like to see some of this self-policing. Alternatively, maybe government is the only entity powerful enough to legislate such policies.

What dose this have to do with anything? He was hired to do a job. He does not have to be personally involved. Actually, if he is a good consultant he would never let his personal views get in the middle of business. Unless he is hired to give his personal advice as an expert. More power to him for taking advantage of an oppertunity!

You sound like you think its funny,

Another reason to VOTE for Bill Richardson for President!!

After reading everyones comments I first want to say how sorry I am to the ones that have lost someone from oxycontin. But I also have to say that if it wasn't for oxycontin I would be in a bed 24 hrs a day. I have major nerve damage that nothing can fix or cure. I went from being a normal person working 40 plus hrs a wk to being out of work for the past 7 yrs. I refused for many years to take major pain pills as I didn't want to have to go thru drug rehab along with rehab for my nerve damage. Finally all of my doctors sent me to a "head doctor" to get me to take these drugs. All I have to say now is THANK GOD they talked me into taking oxycontin! From not being able to have a life, to being able to lead a life again from a pill! Thank GOD!

My husband's life ended suddenly at the age of 43. Our little girl was only 2 when he passed away in his sleep. Oxycontin and all of the drugs equally as dangerous and addictive should not even be legal then alone offered to patients already faced with horrible pain and depression from injuries. Something must be done! Drugs and money, is that all that matters to this country anymore? Does anyone even realize how many lives are affected by the death of one single person and how many lives that person had touched during their lifetime? What is wrong with our society anymore? Drugs are so common. People just look the other way like it's not a big deal as we continue to lose more and more of our precious husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and children. When is it going to stop?!

I can understand people wanting to ban an item like a handgun, which has only one use - to kill other humans. But the idea that anyone would want to deprive law-abiding people with crippling pain, who have never abused their medication, of strong pain medication by a blanket ban on narcotic pain meds seems to me either ignorant or remarkably selfish.

In the late 1990s, the law in Washington State [among others] was that only patients with conditions that were temporary could be prescribed any opiate-based pain medication. So, if one had a broken leg, one could have Vicodin, Percocet, etc. But patients with permanent painful conditions were forbidden by statute from being prescribed opiates. This was changed in the early 2000s, because non-opiate meds were insufficient in too many cases.

I suggest that anyone who thinks there should be a blanket ban on these medications contact the American Pain Society, or and ask the opinion ofmedical doctors who work in pain management.

Nothing to see here. Just another Republican criminal making huge profits off the pain and suffering of the American taxpayer.

Giuliani Please explain why WTC 7 fell like it was imploded like the other two towers. This was a controlled demolition, a crime was committed by our government including Giuliani, now there is discussions of him running for president, when we should be discussing weather he should be put in jail for life for his treasons acts against the USA, He is a criminal and terrorist and should be treated as such.

someone mentioned we democrats have no backbone. well as a purple heart medic vietnam veteran who was shot through the center of his neck and survived, i take offense to that. and i am the father of a decorated iraq war veteran, also a democrat, who saw 3 of his sergeant friends killed by an ied due to a poorly armored humvee. strange, i never saw bush or cheney in vietnam or their children in iraq.

This is very troubling news. I cannot believe that Giuliani sought to help a company that lied to the American people about a health risk of this magnitude.

Our son is dead his 3 young sons no longer have a father! The killer was oxycontin! Who should compensate us all for this nightmare? The doctors that operated on him 6 times and kept upping the dosage? The drug companies that supplied the drugs? All we have left are his ashes and bills. We are retired on social security. We can't afford lawyers. We can't bring our son back to us. Who is willing to help us? No one. We need to know someone is responsible for Michael's pain and finally his life!

I just want to say I and my family members spent quite a few emergency hosp. trips because my son was hooked on this DRUG!!!!!!!!! I hate it and the last hosp. visit I thought I was loosing him, he was not breathing and blue when the EMS picked him up from a friends house, he was in a comma and through pray and belief I still have my son. My point is this drug and teens don't mix along with alot of other drugs, what I want to know is why are these types of addictive drugs soooooo out of control and easy access for our children!!!!!!! WE America need to get a hold on the whole perscription distribution system, it is a free for all..........

Anyone who lived through Giuliani's New York knows his answer to any proof of sleaze: "It's political." I'm kinda nostalgic to hear it again. But it's hard for a self-righteous bully to accept criticism.
And if you think Bush intimidated the press, just wait for the Giuliani boys - they play hardball with any journos who dare to question His Saintliness. Bye Bye Democracy.

i've been on oxcontin for almost two years because of a back injury and since i've been on the medication not only have my memory became bad so has my speach and i can even get out the bed with taking this drug.and aslo along with this my vision is bad and as far as insurance is concern i can only get insurance for 6 months because of the oxcontin there's lot of side affects to this drug that i don't think even the makers of the drug knows.they should be a shame of what this drug has done in people lives just for the love of MONEY.

Dolores Yerger, I am very sorry for your loss. If your son had 6 operations, and MDs saw fit to increase his pain med dosage, it sounds like a serious medical problem.

Sadly, we all die, and some people die young, and surviving a young person is painful. Not every bad thing that happens can be prevented, neither can - or should - every sad event result in monetary compensation. I think that when lawyers or pundits encourage the public to see monetary settlements or legal verdicts as "closure" it is a disservice to those who suffer.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

Ron Paul and Mike Gravel are the only two running for President who are capable of not working for the pharmaceutical industry. Hillary Clinton is too serious about winning to really oppose them.

Rudy's presidential ambitions are toast. He has no ethics:

Giuliani had raised $15,000 in donations for a "traveling museum operated by the DEA."

Some officials told ABC News there were questions inside the agency of whether the donations were an attempt to influence the DEA.

Before he was mayor, Rudy used to go after corrupt businessmen. (But he did this to make a name for himself.) Once elected, he did a 180 flip flop and catered to any and all big business. Once out of office, he got paid to help corrupt businessmen. And no republican has any problem with this? Of course not. The GOP stands for flip-flop, whether it was Reagan (who hated democracy and illegally funded terrorists with my taxes) or Dubya who keeps none of the promises he makes. (I love the one where he said Saddam's billions would pay for the war and not my hard earned money.) Giuliani has more scandals than any of you will ever know. Do your homework. PLease?

Instead of having a "war on drugs,
maybe what we need is a
"WAR ON DRUG COMPANIES"

Jackee, If Oxycontin is ruining your life, then only an idiot would keep taking it. Get off the medication. Every medication isn't for every person. You clearly need something else.

Kathy, these drugs aren't available for children. They're available by prescription only. If your kids are getting them from drug dealers, perhaps you need to look at your parenting to see why your kids are buying pain meds from dealers. OxyContin is meant to aid in pain relief, and just because idiots smash it and take it for fun, doesn't mean it should be taken away from the people who use it properly.

"Oxycontin and all of the drugs equally as dangerous and addictive should not even be legal then alone offered to patients already faced with horrible pain and depression from injuries."

WTF??? Those of us with horrible pain and injuries would like you to leave our pain meds alone, thank you very much. If your family members became addicted, I'm sorry, but either they were using the drugs improperly or something went terribly wrong. Sometimes things going terribly wrong, like poisoned salad mix. That doesn't mean we ban salad. Speaking on behalf of those with chronic pain, pain meds give us our life BACK. If I didn't have my pain meds, I couldn't work or have any sort of quality of life. Don't let people who abuse drugs take away MY MEDICINE. It's not my fault.

So lets see, first, it was a Rush thing, now it's a "republican" thing. I think what we have here are hyper-political left wing pundants that rewrite history as it occurs to smear their perceived political opponents. NO doubt individuals who are a product of our NO LONGER LIBERAL schools.

Nancy - I'm with you. The amount of suffering that has been eliminated with opiates is one of the greatest success stories in medical history. These drugs allow many law-abiding citizens to be productive and happy members of society.

I am appalled at how many people are willing to punish law-abiding pain patients by banning these useful drugs because of the misbehavior of *others*. Why should our medical procedures be curtailed because people who have no medical use for these drugs misuse them? Why should we act based on the claims of people who are caught for other crimes [violence, stealing, embezzling] and *then* claim recreational drug use causes them to abandon law-abiding lives for crime? Why should we just take their word that the criminal acts & attitude did not come first?

In poor countries, people kill themselves with caustic chemicals, antifreeze and battery acid, and nobody is proposing banning those. Lots of people die from carbon monoxide. And yet no one is calling for a ban on cars or combustion-based home appliances.

Oxycondin loses its efficacy rapidly requiring almost monthly increases in dosage to control long term pain. Our pharmacist advised methadone for long term pain control. He was correct. Methadone has controlled my pain for several years now without any increase in dosage or addictive cravings that I experienced with Oxycondin.

So now Giuliani AND Rush Limbaugh are to blame. The Dems and left wingers are once again the model of hypocracy. Remember Bill Clinton? Before you start throwing stones and Giuliani, look in the mirror. I noticed that quite a few people writing in who had very ill loved ones pass away while taking the drug blame the pharma company for their death. While tragic, there is NO proof it caused death other that for addicts. Its already getting blown out of proportion. Par for the course.

yes I was watching Good Morning America this morning and seen the report on OC. I get so upset, OC almost killed my daughter. I get so mad with the makers of OC for they do not care how many lives they ruin, just as long as they can put that BIG FAT PAY CHECK INTO THEIR POCKET EACH WEEK. I am a firm believer in what goes around will come around and one day, one day they will face something that will bring back all those lives that were destroyed because of their GREED. Not only the makers of this drug but all the doctors that prescribe this drug to all the people that dont need it, just want it to sell or abuse. They dont understand or dont care what it is like at night to lie awake crying wondering if your child is alive or dead. This drug is so dangerous 634 Million is not enough for all the lives they have destoryed.
Shelby

Hey Bob...
Guiliani likes to dress up like a woman?
Well, Hillary likes to dress up like a man and she's the Democrat front runner! I wouldn't vote for either one of them. Ron Paul or Tancredo! As for the rest of them (on either side)... they either are on oxycontin or should be!

How many of our children are going to have to die because these drug companies are so greedy. Two young boys died this week in my area from the drug. My beautiful 23 year old son died on Spetember 27, 2006 as a result of this drug. The doctors know, the drug companies know and the government knows. It's evil. Our family is torn apart and devastated forever. How do we go on? What do we do now?

WAKE UP PEOPLE, THERE IS MORE TO RUDY GIULIANI THAN MEETS THE EYE. HE'S GOT MORE SKELETON IN HIS CLOSET THAN A PIRATE. NEXT TO COME OUT WILL BE HOW GIULIANI HAMPERED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT IN NEW YORK BEFORE 911.

It's HYPOCRISY, Gary. Learn to spell you moron.

I am sorry for the people thatlost family members from this drug. But, the bottomline is we must all take responsibility for our own lives and stop blaming everyone else for things that go wrong.
Parents needs to be in control of their children at any cost.
As we all know we can lead a horse to water but, we cannot make him drink.

It is amazing how the mob is lynching a good man who showed a real character and integrity during the worst tragedy in US history.

I find a remarkable lack of common sense in people who would confuse a drug abuser with a legitimate, chronic pain patient. I do also feel sorry for anyone's loss of a loved one. However, on the flip side there is "personal responsibility" lacking in people who cry foul when their children "take" Oxycontin and other strong pain medications. Where did the get them? An adult who finds his/her use out of control to the point of stealing and mugging, etc. has a addiction problem and if not addicted to one opiate or another would find a 'street substitute'. As for those who blame a company? They sell NO drugs directly to the public. Who to blame? Doctors? No, not when abusers will by opiates, going "doctor shopping" to support their habits. The use of Oxycontin was expanded to include long-term, chronic pain patiets because there is a NEED for strong pain killers in that subset of people. Because you know Bubba's uncle's cousin who was buying them on the street, going from doctor to doctor to find his/her supply, you would punish those of us who get and use strong pain killers daily in order to function, despite the pain that fills our every waking moment. Yet, the biggest killer of all addictive drugs, is alcohol...we tried banning that, but WOW, wonder of wonders, it's back. How many of you would suggest giving up your bottle of wine or your 6 pk of beer? No one NEEDS a martini, pain patients, from all walks of like DO need pain relief. Or would you rather we not function in society and hop on the SSDI dole. My thinking is that you'd complain about that, too. There are many politicians with fingers in pots where they don't belong...Guilianni may be one of those. I was never pushed to take Oxycontin, rather I resisted for 9 years, because of negative publicity. That is until my life became my bedroom, my vacations became nightmares, I couldn't work or care for my family. This drug, in a class with several other perfectly good long-term opiate pain relief is being denigrated, those of us who NEED this drug denied due to fear of scrutiny of the compassion doctors who ARE fully informed and DO inform their patients of the hazards of the drug are being harassed at every turn. Do not tell me it's a bad drug. Do not tell me it's a bad gun. Do not tell me it's a bad car. Bad, negligent, irresponsible and illegal acts occur because of the people behind them. If you think this drug is adminstering itself to "young boys" and "our children" I suggest you look in the mirror and see it for what it really is: a negligent society that refuses to take responsibility for it's bad, negligent, irresponsible behavior, particularly when it's certainly easy to point to a little pill and say: That pill kill/maimed/damaged my child.

"Introduced almost 10 years ago, OxyContin quickly became a godsend for people suffering from persistent pain."

There are several dosages of Oxycontin starting at 10 mg (white) and going up to 80 mg (referred to as "blues" by Rush Limbaugh). It is a time release drug as opposed to Lorcet, Percodan and Vicodin which hit you all at once. The "godsend", as referred to in the FDA quote of my post, is directed toward folks who experience moderate to severe pain on a daily basis. Each day. Every day.

Anyone taking an 80 mg tablet of Oxycontin and crushing it or breaking it - to destroy the protective time release properties of the drug - is abusing it.

Prolonged Oxycontin use creates dependency. In those with abusive personalities it creates addiction. Those on the lower end of the spectrum would abuse banana peels, if they thought it would get them high.

Everyone who is surprised by this please raise your hand.

Purdue Frederick did wrong (sorry, I fail to see a political angle to this story) but if you've been taking painkillers for years...you've probably got a physical dependency. And if you live in pain each day, every day...you don't care.