The lawsuit claims that Purdue Frederick Co., and its associated companies Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma Inc., Abbott Laboratories Inc., and Abbott Laboratories used "highly coercive and inappropriate tactics" in convincing doctors and pharmacists to prescribe and fill prescriptions for the drug, "often when it was not called for."

The suit further states that the makers of the drug failed to warn doctors of the drug's potential for abuse. Nationwide, OxyContin has been linked to at least 120 overdose deaths.

The lawsuit connects the companies' practices to unnecessary prescription of the drug to West Virginia residents under the state's Medicaid program. According to the state, about $4.6 million of the state Medicaid program's pharmacy benefits were spent on OxyContin in 2000.

"We're concerned about the use and abuse of OxyContin, and if there are things the manufacturer is doing to increase that, then we need to put a stop to that," said Paul Nusbaum, head of the state's health-services agency.

The drug is generally prescribed to terminal cancer patients and chronic-pain sufferers. The active ingredient in OxyContin can give the same kind of euphoric feeling as heroin. While the drug is supposed to be time-released, abusers crush the pills and inhale or inject the powder to get high.

Purdue Pharma officials said they have not seen a copy of the lawsuit, but released a statement that said, "We will vigorously defend ourselves and fully expect to prevail. We want the many thousands of patients in West Virginia receiving pain relief from OxyContin tablets to rest assured that nothing in this case or any other case will cause us to abandon them or deter us from making sure that our drug is available to them."

The lawsuit seeks unspecified restitution and civil penalties.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by starlight11 on 01 Oct 08 07:05 PM EDT

Oxycontin is poison. It is highly addictive and there are Medicaid recipients who get their prescriptions and then sell pills individually to dealers and addicts for a high profit. (Your Medicare D at work). In the meantime, children and young adults have become addicted at a great emotional, physical and financial cost to themselves, their families and society. This drug should be taken off the market. Contact a local law firm specializing in class action lawsuits and work to get this devestating drug off the market.

Posted by doxabi on 09 Oct 08 07:36 AM EDT

I agree that it's not a bad idea to get oxycontin off the street. Is there not an alternative for this type of pain relief that is not so addictive? It's not JUST the pharmaceutical company who contributes to the epidemical misuse/ abuse of the drug. Doctors who prescribe the drug need to be held more accountable for their choices/behaviors in treating patients. Blaming Purdue Frederick Inc and associates for "coercive tactics that cause the doctors & pharmacists to prescribe and fill the prescriptions" is the same as saying these medical and pharmaceutical "professionals" have no mind of their own. It is everyone's responsibility to get this substance off the street and under better control. Everyones responsibility to manage the "economic" aspects of this or any other misused/abused substance. "Money talks" is a phrase whose power is often underestimated. Follow the money trail, and there you will find those responsible. A lot of the problem is a fundamental economic principle of "supply & demand". Think about it.

Posted by Patty (from Canada) on 16 Jun 09 01:33 AM EDT

Blaming PURDUE FREDERICK INC. is the right thing to do as well was doctors and pharmacists who prescribes it...The drug company with-held information about the drug and doctors get a kick back or make money off of every prescription written and the pharmacists make hundreds of dollars filling the scripts ($400.00 for 120 pills)the one that suffers is the who is ailing and look what happens...we pay deeply..money and health and trust... how can we trust doctors..I trusted mine to help me with my health and he put my health in worse condition then it was in the first place,IF I knew what would happen to me from ingesting oxycontin..I would NOT have taken it... I was misinformed... "I was NOT informed" I should say...it has been a long hard road,and I will never be the same.......CARMA works in mysterious ways.

Posted by J.T (from Canada) on 10 Jan 10 01:02 AM EST

With multiple compression fractures,21 Degree lean,curvature of the spine (looks like a slight s shape)and of course the arthritis.I deal with pain folk's.My fully legal prescription for Oxycontin allows me to function.I can do things,not all things mind you,but things.However,things have changed.Specifically my doctor's views on prescribing me Oxycontin for my pain.There's been so much bad press about the drug and all of the "criminal activity" associated with it,that my doctor has now chosen to take me off of it.Believe that! Believe this! We (Patients of pain)need our voice heard also,not to be grouped in with the criminal statistics and treated as such. I should not be forced into withdrawal and pain from one doctor's panicked political decision to not prescribe Oxycontin.

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