Book about OxyContin

[OBXman]

I have a book perhaps some of you may be interested in. The title is "Pain Killer: A 'Wonder' Drug's Trail of Addiction and Death." The author, Barry Meier is a reporter for the New York Times. After writing a story for his paper he wrote a book on the subject. The back dust-jacket of the book begins "Equal parts crime thriller, medical detective story, and business exposé, 'Pain Killer' takes a hard-hitting look at how a powerful drug touted as the salvation for millions triggered a national tragedy."

The drug manufacturer, Purdue Pharma is privately owned by one of America's wealthiest families. They basically bamboozled the FDA, doctors and the public, aggressively promoting their new gold mine.They promoted it as being safe with little risk of dependence, and that it actually discourages abuse! They knew just the opposite is true and lied about it (sounds like the tobacco companies, huh?). Many rural, remote areas of the country that never had much problem with addicts in the past suddenly have huge epidemics. Now it's earned the nickname "hillbilly heroin."

I know this will be of little or no help to the members of this group struggling to get off of OxyContin. We are all ultimately responsible for our own addictions. But it is interesting to learn how this company with absolutely no conscience promoted it, and got away with it. If you're interested, copy and paste this link below. You can buy a used copy for as little as $2.88.

http://www.amazon.com/Pain-Killer-Wonder-Drugs-Addiction/dp/1579546382/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1200007874&sr=11-1

I promise, this will be my one and only book review :-). I give it to you only FYI. I thought it was interesting...

Marc

[marcatj]

wow.  good info, thanks buddy... (and i personally LOVE book reviews!)

they actually just settled a class-action lawsuit a few months back, for multi-millions (i don't recall how much.)  because they NEW it was addictive, and lied...

[wait2long]

thanks for the info...let me guess...no consequences for them or the FDA for this, right? amazing...i didnt know any of this information, how upsetting...its actually MORE addictive than percocets in my view...