If you know a thing or two about pain, this is your chance to have an impact. The Los Angeles Times has been investigating OxyContin. They have a long story here, static.latimes.com/... It is on a page surprisingly free of advertising. Since this is part 1, presumably soon there will be a part 2.
According to the LA Times, OxyContin’s rocketing popularity in part was due to its supposed 12-hour effect. But for some patients it only lasts about eight hours, and doctors and pharmacists have usually not been told that. What happens then? All too often, a patient is tagged for “drug-seeking behavior”. Furthermore, the four hours of withdrawal followed by relief is a perfect storm that may create addiction. Please click the link for much more information.
The authors are seeking those with experience to tell their stories. You can also tell others' stories, if you have a good story once removed. There is a button about a fifth of the way down the page, or you can go here to tell the story, static.latimes.com/... You can also leave a public comment, or contact the reporter privately. Clicking "contact the reporter" at the end of the article will automatically connect your email with Harriet Ryan, the lead author.
You also might be interested in Purdue's mealy mouthed response here, static.latimes.com/…
As the founder of the DKos group Pain Patient Empowerment, I hear a lot of stories, but I don’t feel it is my place to share those specifics, even with names removed. I can tell you, though, that while some struggle with addiction, a lot struggle with under-treatment of their chronic pain.
The LA TImes is the newspaper with the 3rd largest circulation in the United States and the 7th largest digital traffic in the world (www.journalism.org/...), and they are investigating pain pills right now. Their investigation will have a major influence, possibly even affecting federal policy. So don’t let their investigation go with stories of untreated pain unheard.
And if you'd like to join our group, share below or via Kosmail, I'd be interested in hearing how it’s going for you!