MEMORIAL DAY

On this Memorial Day we are reminded that many of our freedoms have been won and maintained, not by diplomacy, but by the willingness of millions to make any sacrifice necessary to keep their freedom. Many of our parents or grandparents were involved in World War II. They were forced to fight a war that could have been prevented if our leaders had listened to Hitler, took him seriously, and then taken action to prevent this madman from starting a war that killed over 72 million people and cost tens of billions of dollars.

When Hitler came to power in 1933, only fifteen years had passed since the conclusion of World War I, when an estimated 16 million people died and over 20 million more were wounded. In addition, the Great Depression had begun in 1929 and most governments were seeing the collapse of their economies.

Hitler never hid his intentions. In Mein Kampf, which translates as “My Struggles”, Hitler told everyone his future vision for the world—more land for the German people and the elimination of the Jewish people. The big bankers and industrialists were his biggest supporters because he promised them that he would make them more powerful by rearming Germany and giving them control of vast resources in surrounding countries that he intended to conquer.

It is now thought that if France had moved a military division to the German border in 1935 when Hitler announced he was starting military conscription and openly violating the Treaty of Versailles that had been signed in 1918, that Hitler would have fallen from power. But France merely protested mildly. The leaders of Europe followed this same pattern and Hitler thus started World War II.

OXYCONTIN MEMORIAL DAY

Few “legal” drugs have created the type of death and destruction as OxyContin. Started in 1992 by the Sackler family, Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, wanted to create a sustained release product that would compete with Percocet and other narcotics. They did this by developing a sustained version of oxycodone and named it OxyContin. Unlike the other major drug companies, Purdue Pharma remains a privately owned company and is not required to make the same disclosures of the publicly owned companies.

However, the criminal case against Purdue Pharma brought by U.S. Attorney Brownlee uncovered documents where Purdue Pharma clearly revealed that they were in business to make money, and this was far more important than the lives of people. It was simple for these amoral people. The only way that they could make money was to sell large quantities of OxyContin. The problem was that Percocet and many of the other narcotics that contained oxycodone or its near cousin hydrocodone also contained acetaminophen—a drug used to relieve pain and the main ingredient in Tylenol. The problem with acetaminophen is that large doses can cause liver cancer.

However, OxyContin contained oxycodone, legal heroin. Obviously, somehow medical professionals must be convinced that this was really not as addictive as heroin or many would not prescribe it.

Purdue Pharma found a simple solution—they lied. Like the Bayer Drug Company in the early 1900's when they tried to market heroin as a less addictive drug than morphine, Purdue Pharma believed that if they were convincing enough that no one would really learn the truth. (Bayer neglected to tell people that heroin was metabolized into morphine in the body.) Well, it worked for a long time.

Armed with fancy brochures, Purdue Pharma drug representatives persuaded doctors that OxyContin was not really addictive and could safely be prescribed for the treatment of any type of pain—not just cancer patients. This marketing caused a boom in the sales of OxyContin and the Sackler families made billions of dollars until 2007.

After killing thousands and devastating the lives of tens of thousands of people, in 2007 Purdue was prosecuted and pled guilty to criminal charges of lying about the addictive qualities of OxyContin. However, as described in detail in “Different Justice for a Drug Dealer” our May 4, 2009 Newsletter (http://www.novusdetox.com/BanOxyContin.htm), U.S. Attorney Brownlee allowed these criminals to stay in business even though other companies that had done far less devastation were banned from doing business with the government. Instead of Purdue Pharma being out of business and OxyContin off the market, this criminal company was allowed to continue, and every day more people die and even more become addicted.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

What would have happened to the course of history if the leaders of Europe had stood up to Hitler and caused his being thrown from power—before he started World War II? We don't know if another terrible dictator might have taken over Germany, but we do know that the FDA has a second chance at stopping a criminal company from continuing to kill thousands and devastate the lives of tens of thousands.

When it concludes its Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) recommendations, it can more directly limit the availability of OxyContin, legal heroin. The FDA can listen to Purdue Pharma, which lied, or it can listen to the words of people from around the country who really know the price their families, friends and themselves paid so that the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma could make more money.

As most of you know, Larry Golbom and I have created a petition to ban OxyContin. The address is http://banoxycontin.com. Here are some of the comments from people who have signed the petition. They are not big bankers or industrialists but deserve to be heard by the FDA.

Here are excerpts from a few:

“My brother lost his dear wife, Mary Jo, and I have lost my beautiful sister-in-law to Oxycontin. The anguish and heartache never diminish- because more and more people are falling victim to this terrible drug every day.”

“My nephew passed away this year. His addiction began with prescribed Oxycontin.“

“My beautiful son Joshua Michael Sergent passed away January 16, 2009 from overdosing on an opiate/valium combination. He was prescribed OxyContin years ago which led to an addiction. He was 28. OxyContin led to his death.”

“I buried my darling brother to an overdose...and if this is a way to save the life of someone else's kid...where do I sign?”

“I HAVE 3 NEPHEWS THAT STARTED WITH OXY'S APPROX. 3-5 YRS AGO AND NOW ARE ON HEROIN...........LIFE IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES!”

“I currently have an 18 year old daughter in rehab for heroin addiction, which all started with OXYCONTIN!!!!!”

“This s___ has killed 3 of my good friends, one being my BEST friend!! Also it has put me in jail, stolen my first love, and placed me in rehab 2 times, and on this note I'm only 21!! OXY KILLS...>>>!!!”

“I have had way to many friends die because of this drug it needs to be banned.”

“In memory of my 19 year old big brother "Ryan Roberson". My brother was my best friend and Hero. Oxycontin first took away my brother and then it killed him. At my High School you can buy Oxycontin when ever you want it.”

“OxyContin has taken the life of 2 friends and destroyed the life of my younger brother and our family.”

“I have now lost three friends from overdoses of OxyContin.”

“I have lost my Brother and Brother-in-Law to prescribed OxyContin and other pain medication. I have at least 3 nieces and 1 nephew who are addicted and I fear for their life.”

“I found my Grandson dead in his bed. One 80 mg.”

“I have lost a close friend and My brother to this Drug.”

“My son is a heroin addict. His addiction started with Oxycontin. He moved to heroin because he couldn't get more Oxy.

“My Ex died from an Oxycontin overdose, and she is not alone.”

“I have lost 3 friends to this drug within 1 year.”

“My dear friend lost her 26 year old son recently due to use of Oxycontin furnished supposedly by a caring friend.”

“My boyfriend went from oxycontin to heroin. I don't think I need to add much more to that story for you all to understand.”

“I'm glad this petition is up..I lost my brother 6 years ago to this "demon" and it must be stopped.”

“On September 23, 2001, my 19 year old son overdosed on oxycontin.”

“Oxycontin killed my 26 yr old son April 29, 2009.”

“My son is a recovering Heroin addict. He began with Oxycontin.”

“My Son Joseph Meese passed away on January 15, 2005, from an oxycontin overdose.”

“In loving memory of Emily Jackson who took this horrible drug just once & paid for it with her life.”

“My children have lost 3 friends to overdoses of Oxycontin.”

“My son Rob Jr died 05/23/08 of a prescription drug overdose that started with Oxycontin that his Dr started him on and another Dr finished him off with.”

“I lost my 26 year old son Brandon Patrick Williams to an oxycontin overdose on 3/22/09.”

“I lost my cousin to this terrible drug.”

“My son died from misuse of oxycontin and other prescription drugs at the age of 21.

“My son died from oxy in October 2008 and since then our community has lost 6 more that we know of from this evil pain killer. It kills the pain all right it kills it dead!”

"My son was another casualty of oxycontin. From the expensive oxys to the cheap heroin, he died of an OD Oct, 2002.”

“My youngest son died from this horrendous drug.”

“In memory of Patrick Stewart. One pill took the life of my sisters boyfriend!”

“In loving Memory of my baby brother.... James Elliot Heuton.”

“My daughter became a widow due to an Oxycontin addiction.”

“I lost my brother and too many close friends to the abuse of this f__d drug.”

“My husband died of an overdose of Oxycontin in 2007.”

“My brother was addicted and is no longer with us.”

“I lost my 17 year old son Dec 29,2008 to an Oxy overdose. We have lost 5 boys in our community since October from Oxy.”

“No words can express how I feel..after losing a son...my 20 yr old beautiful son...”

“On 09-08-01 I lost my beautiful child Elliot to an overdose of OxyContin.”

"I have lost one son, 22, to an overdose and my other son is in jail forcing himself to become clean and sober from the use of pain pills. My life will never be the same."

“In memory of my beautiful Emily. She died from opiate intoxication on March 14, 2007. She was 23 years old."

“My only brother, the baby of my family died 2/26/09 at the age of 29 due to an over dose of Oxycontin.”

“Lost my 18 year old son Matt on June 3, 2007 from this immorally made and sold drug-all for greed to get more money. May the makers of this drug rot in HELL!"

CONCLUSION

Only a few of the comments at http://banoxycontin.comhave been listed here, but they tell a story that the FDA and even the drug companies cannot ignore. The FDA's unwillingness to end the destruction of this terrible drug is no more excusable than the lack of courage shown by Europe that allowed Hitler to start a war that killed 70 million people. All of us know that OxyContin is marketed by an acknowledged criminal company—Purdue Pharma.

If you as a parent, grandparent, brother, sister or friend are tired of allowing legal heroin to be on the market, then go to http://banoxycontin.comand sign the petition. Then contact your local representatives and demand that they do something about this terrible and destructive drug. Ask your representatives to go to http://banoxycontin.comand read the comments. Get others to read the comments. The truth is there if we will just look.

At Novus we will continue to help people recover from dependencies/addictions to OxyContin, heroin, Vicodin, methadone, Xanax and other psychoactive drugs. We are proud of what we do, and if you know someone that we can help please call us.

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