OxyContin's Makers Fined $634 Million for Lying about Addiction to Drug

[The Straight Story]

OxyContin's Makers Fined $634 Million for Lying about Addiction to Drug



Moms, dads and grandparents told heartbreaking stories during a case settled July 20 as a Federal judge in Virginia ordered OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma to pay $634 million for "making false statements" about the powerfully addicting drug. Over 200 Virginians have died from overdose of the drug. Mountain Community families believe at least one local death can be attributed to overdose of the painkiller being used recreationally. It was originally authorized by the Federal Drug Administration for cancer patients in extreme pain. The company was charged with misleading regulators, doctors and consumers about the addictive risks of OxyContin.

Three company executives were individually singled out to be held accountable for the company's aggressive efforts to promote the drug for purposes not approved by the FDA.They led Purdue Pharma to invite doctors and dentists on cruises and junkets to promote broad use of the heroin-like drug for "off label" uses, including toothaches, resulting in extensive addiction and illicit access to the drug. The practice is said to have yielded $9.6 billion for the drug company. As they settled the case, Purdue claimed it was the doctors who prescribed the drug, who are responsible. The money will settle civil suits by Virginia families of those who have died and become addicted, and to repay government medical services charged for the drugs.

http://www.mountainenterprise.com/atf.php?sid=1255

[Kagemusha]

1. Note that many liberals are saying the DoJ let them off real easy.

Can decide for yourself/selves but that's the talk. No one trusts the Gonzales DoJ anyway.

[Flabbergasted]

2. This will be Rush's main discussion topic tomorrow. nt

[Dammit Ann]

3. I lost a good friend to this bullshit drug.

And he had always handled EVERYTHING. Sad day.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Guiliani needs to be smeared for his part in this

http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2007/giuliani-accused-of-shielding.html

Giuliani Accused of Shielding Purdue Pharma in OxyContin Scandal
July 17, 2007

Former New York mayor and presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani is being criticized for image consulting that helped pharmaceutical firm Purdue Pharma as the company grappled with criticism over the marketing of the painkiller OxyContin, Newsday reported July 15.

After stepping down as mayor, Giuliani worked for five years as a consultant, taking a job with Purdue that sought to blame drug dealers -- and not the company -- for the problem of OxyContin abuse and addiction. However, Purdue officials agreed in May to pay $640 million in fines and plead guilty to fraud charges for minimizing the risks associated with the drug.

Giuliani also helped negotiate the plea deal that allowed the Purdue executives to avoid jail time.

"The country was being devastated, continues to be devastated, and his function was to convince the public that there wasn't a problem with the drug," said Marianne Skolek, whose daughter Jill died in 2002 of heart failure after being prescribed OxyContin. "He is not a hero to the thousands of parents who have lost kids or whose kids are in rehab facilities as a result of Purdue peddling this drug."

...more at link

[The Straight Story]

5. Did not know that, thanks for the link and info

much appreciated my friend!

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Anytime, Mr. Story!

;) :hi:

[OneBlueSky]

7. when used properly, Oxycontin is a very effective drug . . .

I know because I've been using it for six or seven years to control several different types of neurological pain, some of them very severe . . .

still, the manufacturers got what they deserved for not doing the necessary things to prevent abuse . . . my pain doc says that there were several easy fixes available that they failed to use in order to increase profits . . . for example, they could have included a compound that would make the drug ineffective if it were crushed, but they didn't . . .

I really feel for those who suffered and, in some cases, died due to their negligence . . . but as a pain control drug, I haven't found anything that works as well for my particular kind of pain . . .