Let Them Take Aspirin

In a small victory for patients, an FDA advisory panel has rejected a proposal from drug warriors to impose new restrictions on access to the time-release painkiller OxyContin. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) wanted the FDA to stop family practitioners from prescribing the drug and limit its use to severe pain (rather than moderate to severe). The New York Times reports:

The panel voted 13 to 5 against restricting OxyContin's use to patients in severe pain. "I'm uncomfortable with people with moderate pain having to beg for access to these drugs," said Dr. Steven Shafer, an anesthesiologist from North Carolina. "And I'm concerned that taking moderate off would be an invitation to prosecution by the D.E.A."

Nearly all panel members spoke against restrictions that would stop family doctors from prescribing the drugs. Panel members noted that patients in rural areas who do not have access to specialists would effectively be denied the medicine if the power to prescribe the pills was limited to specialists.

This episode is further proof that the DEA is either lying or deluded when it claims that anti-diversion efforts are perfectly consistent with adequate pain treatment.

Comments

[JSM]

JDM, We are spending billions to eradicate marijauna and fighting the medicinal marijauna laws passed in 8 or 9 states. In addition, nearly 80% of the nation supports the concept of medical marijuana. There should be a thousand posts in a couple of hours on that topic!

As for the Oxycontin issue, the DEA has no business trying to regulate an FDA approved pain killer. If its being sold outside of a doctors prescription, now they have beef. I see the DEA as being a part of the power grabbing DOJ.

[JDM]

So it's about the amount of money spent. I see.

[Mudflap]

What really incites me is the constant overstepping of these government agencies. Putting the issue of right or wrong aside for a minute. What right does the Drug Enforcement Agency have to try and influence policy? Clearly someone is overstepping his or her bounds. In the private industry you would be told that this is not your job, you obviously need more to do. Let me get you some more work to put on your plate. Continued meddling would result in disciplinary action. What pisses me off is these people are on my dime and can't seem to do what their charter is supposed to be. Not that I really want the DEA to take its appointed duties more seriously. But at least stick to what you are supposed to do.

This seems so prevalent in govt any more. Does anyone really want to pay for the attorney generals propaganda tour?

Any more it seems like half of the radio ads pertain to some kind of F* ing social engineering. Who's paying for that? Of course the answer is obvious, I am, you are. I'll take a safe boating class if I f*ing feel like it. But taking my money and using it to try promote some bureaucrats agenda is horrifying

Ok, I feel better now

[Mo]

JDM,

This time we won.

I can't believe the DEA thinks they know more than doctors and the FDA about when drugs should and shouldn't be used. If my doctor says that a certain pill will ease my pain, then I'll listen to her. I don't care if stupid college kids are using these pills for recreational purposes, I want my damn medicine.

[Partyboy George]

Why is anyone surprised that the DEA has stupid policies since it's staffed by the biggest squares and losers you knew in high school?

[Phill]

What exactly is the difference between moderate and severe pain, other than rhetorical symbolism it is not a hell of a lot. These people speak as though they were debating changing the minimum wage from $5 to $6.

[Anne O'Dean]

If we weren't phobic about recreational use, there wouldn't have the attempted distortion of good medical practice. This wouldn't even require legalization or decriminalization, though that might follow, but rather just GROWING UP.

[joe]

The DoJ has already proven that it is willing to see suffering people denied respite in order to fend of phantom threats to prohibition: see medicinal marijuana.

[dhex]

one thing i've yet to see the pro-pain lobby admit to is that if one of their family members - or better yet, themselves - were to be submitted to the sort of excruciating toll that dying from cancer or MS puts on the body that there would be no shortage of painkilling drugs available to them. it would nice if an ashcroft or a Hutchinson were forced to go through hell and back and be told they were denied painkillers because of the potential for abuse by others.

but i suppose inducing compassion by force sort of defeats the purpose.

[Murrel Rhodes]

Its bad enough that the insurance companies want to override the doctor's opinion with an unqualified clerk who has never seen the patient ... the DEA has no business deciding which drugs a patient should take - their responsibility should be only in enforcing the laws that are on the books ... if that. For in truth the individual should always have the final say (and final responsibility) about what drugs should be ingested and where there is no public effect of their usage, the goverment should stay away.

[JDM]

It seems strange to me that this has only garnered 4 posts so far. When the DEA stops people from using marijuana medicinally there are 60 posts in a couple of hours. It's all about the principles right?