Did Drug Maker Know of OxyContin Abuse?

Oct. 17 -- OxyContin, a powerful painkiller introduced on the market seven years ago, has proven a wonder drug for many sufferers of persistent pain.

But now, in the wake of conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh's announcement that he's "addicted" to prescription pain medications — among them, OxyContin, according to law enforcement officials — much of the nation is aware that the drug can take powerful hold of people who misuse it.

The front-page coverage of Limbaugh's addiction comes as questions are already being raised in Congress about the company that makes OxyContin, Purdue Pharma Co. of Stamford, Conn.

"My concerns," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., "are they have pushed the envelope to the point that a lot of innocent people have just been devastated by this drug."

New York Times reporter Barry Meier says in his upcoming book Pain Killer that Purdue Pharma failed early on to fully heed warnings its pain killer was becoming widely abused.

"This public health epidemic played itself out in that time," Meier said. "It took root. It festered. It exploded. … Many things could have been done to prevent the scope of this tragedy, had they been done in time."

An Instant Hit

OxyContin quickly became a $1 billion-a-year drug after its introduction in 1996. It was considered a godsend for millions of people suffering from persistent pain, from back problems to cancer.

OxyContin's unique feature is that it slowly releases its powerful narcotic, giving relief over a 12-hour span. Because of that, the government also allowed Purdue Pharma to claim OxyContin was less likely to be abused. In essence, it was arguing that there would be no quick hit for people looking to get high.

"It was a very nice theory," Meier said, "and, in fact, may be true. But all of this became absolutely meaningless when this drug hit the street because all you had to do was chew this drug, grind it down with your teeth, hit it with a beer bottle, crush it in any way, and it became a treasure trove."