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Nov-05-2009 19:40
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OxyContin and Heroin Commission Report - State of Massachusetts
Marianne Skolek Salem-News.comAfter months of testimony and preparation, the State of Massachusetts today issued their report on "Recommendations of the OxyContin and Heroin Commission"
 Courtesy: treatmentsolutionsnetwork.com |
(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - The State of Massachusetts "is in the midst of a serious and dangerous epidemic. Prescription drug use is skyrocketing, opioid overdose deaths are steadily increasing and while support for these addiction treatment programs has increased, it is not sufficient to meet the needs of this growing problem."
 Marianne Skolek |
"Based on the nearly 30 hours of oral testimony, thousands of pages of written testimony and the many heartfelt stories the Commission received, the recommendations reflect twenty broad areas of public policy pertaining to addiction and treatment of addiction. The major points of reform include; improving education and prevention measures in schools, revamping our prescription monitoring program to fall in line with more comprehensive plans from other states, regulating pain management training for doctors, dentists and nurse practitioners, ensuring that health insurance companies cover the necessary treatment for each individual, implementing a comprehensive jail diversion program for first-time, non-violent offenders, developing more effective strategies to support long-term engagement in treatment, and correcting the CORI system to better reflect the nature of substance abuse related crimes."
Since every state is immersed in an epidemic of OxyContin a/k/a Hillbilly Heroin, I would like to suggest that every state follow the lead of the State of Kentucky. On October 4, 2007 Kentucky officials sued Purdue Pharma because of widespread Oxycontin abuse in Appalachia.
A lawsuit filed by Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo and Pike County officials demands millions in compensation from drug maker Purdue Pharma.
Purdue Pharma is a $10 billion pharmaceutical company and should be held accountable for this nationwide epidemic of OxyContin deaths and addictions.
OxyContin was marketed as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients by Purdue Pharma. Why should this country allow convicted felons to have billions of dollars in profits while experiencing a modern day Holocaust of loss of life -- and many in young lives?
Let's require Purdue Pharma to build drug rehabilitation centers in every state in the country; provide the finest addiction specialists to treat the victims of OxyContin; and not let insurance companies tell any family that their loved one can't be treated in an in-house drug rehabilitation facility for their OxyContin addiction.
There will be scores of empty chairs at family tables this Thanksgiving because of the actions of a company without a conscience. Let's have every state send a very strong message to Purdue Pharma -- "You will not profit off this epidemic. We will do whatever it takes to have victims of OxyContin treated in Purdue Pharma Drug Rehabilitation Facilities throughout the country."
Salem-News.com Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's who pled guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 7-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.
Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.
oxydeaths.com/news_chilling.htm
nytimes.com/2007/05/10/business/11drug-web.html?
blog.nj.com/njv_bob_braun/2007/07/sometimes_only_justice_can_rel.html
judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=2905&wit_id=6612
You can send Marianne an email at: mskolek@aol.com
oxydeaths.com
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dee November 13, 2009 12:22 pm (Pacific time)
victims of oxycontin? good lord. i suppose oxycontin just jumped into their mouths? up their noses? Tens of thousand of people are suffering in pain due to heavy restrictions on these drugs all becuase a few dumbass kids od'd. why is the blame put on purdue and not those abusing the drug? is there any such thing as personal responsibibly anymore?
Editor: I am shocked that people are so rude and even cruel with the things they write. FYI, Purdue Pharma was convicted for not telling the whole story about this dangerous and addictive drug. Nobody has a problem with it being used safely and effectively by people who need it, but please don't downplay the deaths that are associated with it. Even if you are from Purdue, you make the company look all the worse with a comment like this. Again, it has been proven in court that Purdue did not market this deadly, highly addictive drug with complete information, and people died because of it.
Oregon Reader November 6, 2009 10:12 am (Pacific time)
All addictions are sad, and I bet that most people have a close friend or relative affected by drugs, whether prescription or street. Many people will tell you that for the majority, the only lasting solution is to be in an environment where getting drugs is impossible and where those around are not using drugs. The solution is not prison for drug users, but somewhere that they can get on with their life without the stress-causing factors that influence the need to "escape.
NancyB November 6, 2009 6:27 am (Pacific time)
Some doctors can now treat painkiller and heroin addiction in the privacy of their office with a monthly prescription of buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex). This suppresses the cravings and withdrawal so patients can do the other important things needed to recover. TreatmentMatch.org is a free service from the non-profit organization - National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment (NAABT.org) it is a confidential way to find doctors certified to treat opioid addiction in their office. Bupe is abuse resistant and has a ceiling to its effects making accidental fatal overdoses unlikely. It also blocks other opioids for days, and is not euphoric to people tolerant to opioids. It has enough opioid effect to stop cravings and withdrawal allowing the patient and their family to make the necessary changes that will translate to sustained addiction remission. Learn more about buprenorphine at www.naabt.org or talk with patients who have used it at www.AddictionSurvivors.org
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