NJSBA Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee - Information on Oxycontin

Below you will find links to a selection of articles that will familiarize you with the issues surrounding the painkiller OxyContin. Each link will open in a new window for your convenience. Please don't be put off by the number of articles here - just a few will give you background on the subject. More will be added periodically.

The description of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee's May 20th presentation at the NJSBA Annual Meeting is as follows:

OxyContin: Accidental Addict or Criminal Defendant

Professionals between the ages of 30 and 60, are increasingly caught in the grip of accidental addiction from prescription drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin and Lorcet. In 2002, OxyContin was the most frequently prescribed narcotic in the country and, according to the DEA, one of the most abused. What some users - and their prescribing doctors - did not understand is that OxyContin has the same potential for abuse as morphine.

OxyContin, Vicodin and Lorcet are just three examples of many drugs powerful enough to cause accidental addictions. A panel of experts will discuss the legal and health issues surrounding this trend, which is appearing in courtrooms and in the lives of New Jersey lawyers.

From NJ Law Journal: Overview of Patient Suits Against OxyContin Maker

OxyContin Aggressively Promoted to Doctors

Pain Pill Leaves Death Trail

OxyContin Probe: Drugmaker Downplayed Risk

The New York Times Magazine: The Alchemy of OxyContin

Judge: OxyContin Maker Misled Patent Office

OxyContin Touted as Virtually Non-Addictive

Drugmaker Pushed Painkiller Aggressively

GAO: OxyContin Claims Unsubstantiated

OxyContin Hype

Did OxyContin Maker fail to Heed Signs of Growing Abuse?

Prescription for trouble

Congress Tackles OxyContin

FDA Urged to get Tougher

Worker Alleges Firing Over OxyContin Complaints