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.