the daily rant at www.oocities.org/yodalayhey

6 JUNE 2002: Revised 24Sep02

OXYCONTIN ABUSE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM

What is destroying thousands of lives across all social strata in every corner of America?? A powerful timed-release narcotic called Oxycontin. While very effective for the treatment of pain in terminal illness, it is also being prescribed by many doctors for simple pain management. The sad irony of pain management is that any progress in synthetic narcotics increases the potential for abuse. Abusers of this synthetic opiate
grind up or chew the timed-release globules to produce a substance with narcotic properties reputed to be more potent than heroin. Abusers have died after overdoses of Oxycontin (oxycodone) and also as a result of combining it with alcohol or other drugs.

Pain management for terminal illness or other grave injury is essential but when the patient goes home with an Oxycontin prescription, the whole community is at risk. The escalating "Oxy" problem has now reached even Hollywood, where the glare of the spotlight can be excruciating at the wrong time.

During the much publicized apprehension of Oscar-nominated actress, Winona Ryder, on charges of shoplifting, it was disclosed that she was also in possession of a controlled substance without prescription. By early June, media reports indicated that the substance was Oxycontin, shedding some light on her wan and sullen appearance at the time of her arrest. Security cameras in a department store were used to observe her alleged placement of pricey merchandise into a shopping bag. Winona Ryder has disputed the charges. Prosecutorial zeal aside, her judgement was obviously impaired at the time and may well have been the result of "oxy" abuse.

Should Oxycontin be removed from legitimate medical use as in the case of Quaalude? "Ludes" were widely used as a powerful and dangerous recreational drug throughout the 1970's. The street demand for methaqualone (Quaalude) spawned a rash of clinics around the country under the guise of medical treatment of stress. Methaqualone abuse and distribution became a focus of efforts by DEA, FBI and even the U.S. State Department, which applied diplomatic pressure to discourage its importation from overseas pharmaceutical companies. In 1984, Congress rescheduled methaqualone to Schedule 1 status, which effectively removed it from production and distribution in the United States.

Winona Ryder's difficult and complex personality serves her well as a big screen actress, but let us hope that she now receives the treatment she needs.

Oxycontin abuse clouds judgement, destroys character, and frequently causes death. Physicians and caregivers have increased access, and may be reluctant to recognize or acknowledge patterns of abuse. Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of Oxycontin, promotes public education.

Addendum:

5 June 2002: Winona Ryder received a stirring defense from the father of Polly Klaas during an interview on FOX NEWS related to the recent disappearance of children. Marc Klass, whose daughter was savagely stolen from her bedroom and eventually murdered by a child predator in 1993, is now a national advocate for victims rights.
He has said that the highly-publicized case against Winona Ryder is an example of the courts being run by the spotlight of media attention, and he vouched for her character by stating that Winona Ryder offered $1Million, unsolicited, for the fund to find Polly Klass in 1993. The Klaaskids Foundation eventually accepted $200,000 from her, "far in excess of any other contributor." Marc Klaas stated that he considers Winona "a friend," and that she is a shy, gentle person who is being singled out for aggressive prosecution. Elsewhere, Winona Ryder has talked about her difficult time as a teenager who moved with her single mother to Polly's hometown, Petaluma CA.

Have a yodalayhey day, and please check back soon for updates.
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Winona May Have Been Out of Her Head on Oxy!