I wanted to write one post and be done with it but I feel compelled by some of what I read to leave one last post. I must begin with a big thank you to all the people who defended me so vociferously. I realize I'm not the only one with a raw nerve about the blame heaped on Purdue.
Remember what we did at Purdue. No one knew how to treat pain. And the pain that I asked doctors to prescribe for was indicated under FDA approval. That's the same government, different branch, that has been prosecuting Purdue. But think of the patients for a minute. I've been enlightened by my situation as to what it means to dependent on pills. If I don't take Sinemet 25/100 with a Sinemet CR 50/200 every 3 hours, I can't get out of bed. There is no long acting alternative other than deep brain stimulation, but that's invasive and not oral. If I had a q12 option I'd be on it tomorrow. The pills are all I have. If they were off market because some idiot found a way to abuse it, I would be pissed. I know there are families that are suffering due to abuse of Oxycontin. They misused the product. I hated when doctors told me they uncovered abuse in their practice. But as simple as it sounds, we can't punish the patients that need a med like I do because someone hurts him/her self. Abusers pay the price for their abuse whether or not they get caught. It should be decriminalized and the abusers get the help they need. But don't put the load of the abuse on Purdue. I talked to doctors about pain management. I did not sell to patients. The responsibility for the abuse is on the abusers. No one from Purdue forced a patient or an addict to take Oxycontin. In my opinion, Purdue's biggest problem was bowing to the government when the abuse came to light. Purdue should have gone full bore to the media with a message of what pain management is and what Oxycontin is. When we didn't, we seemed complicit in our silence. When we did address it we did so to the medical community. Too late. Oxycontin was already branded by the media and Purdue was the culprit. So now it's descended to supervised shooting houses and medical marijuana, which I want no part of. If docs can't order pharmaceutical meds correctly how are they going to dose medical jane. How many puffs is equivalent to 40mg per day of hydrocodone? We have gone 180* in pain management because some poor souls have got caught up in the heroin/fentanyl death spiral. Finally, Oxycontin works. It lasts for 12 hours when dosed appropriately for patients with moderate to severe pain that lasts most of the day for several months or more. That's a fact.
I do regret that I never had an opportunity to say good bye to my friends. Heather K. Todd B Dave G, Todd T. Chris S. J. Stew. Suz R. M.B. Phil K. Rich and Jerry, Jessica W., Kat O, Karen S., Bean of course, Tom C, Mr. Ted F., Eric P, Chief - without saying - all the home office people who put up with my calls and half baked ideas (hey, I cared, so sue me), Matt B, Tom in the 'cuse, Pushpa (luv ya), A Stokes, all time bud Bob Ochse, Bradke, B Chud, D Kalie, Eddie Gargasz, Lisa McLeod, J Witt, Mo, Tom K, Bert w the cool boots, and especially Portesa - you know who you are. And to everyone I forgot, thanks for all the fun, hard work, support, pick me ups and the great times we had . I love all of you.