OxyContin’s Fundamental Flaw Offers New Insight Into Addiction
An investigation by the Los Angeles Times finds that the 12-hour-relief promise of OxyContin, one of the most abused pharmaceuticals in U.S. history, doesn't hold true for some people. The problem, though, is that leads to withdrawal symptoms, and when the agony is relieved by the next dose, it creates a cycle of pain and euphoria that fosters addiction.
Los Angeles Times:
'You Want A Description Of Hell?' OxyContin's 12-Hour Problem
The drugmaker Purdue Pharma launched OxyContin two decades ago with a bold marketing claim: One dose relieves pain for 12 hours, more than twice as long as generic medications. Patients would no longer have to wake up in the middle of the night to take their pills, Purdue told doctors. One OxyContin tablet in the morning and one before bed would provide “smooth and sustained pain control all day and all night.” On the strength of that promise, OxyContin became America’s bestselling painkiller, and Purdue reaped $31 billion in revenue. But OxyContin’s stunning success masked a fundamental problem: The drug wears off hours early in many people, a Los Angeles Times investigation found.
(Ryan, Girion and Glover, 5/5)
In other news —
The Santa Cruz Sentinel:
Santa Cruz County Authorities Warn Of Lethal Counterfeit Xanax Containing Fentanyl
Counterfeit Xanax that contains fentanyl has killed at least 16 people in Northern California since October, and Santa Cruz County authorities on Tuesday warned residents about the dangers of illegally obtained prescription drugs. (Baxter, 5/4)