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OxyContin addiction suits will be flying, but don’t wait for drug detox or rehab 

Yesterday’s hearing of Purdue Pharma and its executives marked the end of the national case. Purdue will pay $600 million and the executives who pled guilty to misleading the public about OxyContin’s potential for addiction and abuse will pay $34.5 million. Where is the money going? Unfortunately, most of it will not go to the victims. I don’t know how many people are now struggling with OxyContin addiction, but I do know that many of them will need drug detox and possibly drug rehab to overcome the addiction and resume a normal life.

The money will be distributed to state and federal law enforcement agencies, the federal government, federal and state Medicare programs, a Virginia prescription monitoring program and individuals who have sued the company. About $5 million will be spent on a 6-year program that monitors compliance with the agreement.

The U.S. District Judge who levied the fine and accepted the distribution of the money said he would prefer the money be spent on education of those at risk of drug abuse and treatment of those who are addicted to OxyContin, but he accepted the agreement nevertheless.

“Many young people mistakenly believe today that prescription drugs are safer than other drugs,” Jones said. Indeed. That’s why hospital emergency rooms, drug detox and drug rehab centers are being inundated with victims of prescription drug addiction and abuse. And the morgues have also seen their fair share – from 2003 through 2005 there were 119 oxycodone-related deaths just in the small area of southwest Virginia where the sentencing took place.  And it’s not just young people.

Obviously, the lawsuits will be flying and there’s a good chance that anyone addicted to OxyContin will see some money. But it could take a while. If you or someone you care about is addicted to OxyContin, don’t wait to get into a drug detox. OxyContin addiction is dangerous. Get off it before you become one of the statistics.

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