OxyContin__Savior_Or_Killer_

OxyContin: Savior Or Killer' OxyContin: Savior or Killer' THESIS STATEMENT: With the recent overdose deaths and rise in criminal activity linked to the abuse of the painkiller OxyContin local and state officials as well as the drug’s manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, have began taking steps in curbing it’s abuse. I. The Problem with OxyContin A. What OxyContin is 1. Intended use 2. Abuse B. Severity of OxyContin Abuse 1. Deaths linked to OxyContin 2. Crimes linked to OxyContin II. Solutions A. Steps Government Officials are Taking to Stop Abuse 1. Fingerprinting System 2. Computer Monitoring 3. Stopping Drug Diversion B. What Purdue Pharma is Doing to Stop Abuse 1. Ten Point Plan 2. Manufacturing a New Pill Michael Curran Mrs. Holley Eng. 102 5 August 2001 OxyContin: Savior or Killer' Once hailed as a major breakthrough in the medical field, the painkiller OxyContin has become a drug of serious scrutiny following the recent outbreak of its abuse along with the fatalities and crimes associated with it’s abuse. The abuse of this prescription drug designed to alleviate severe pain has become the single greatest drug threat in rural areas from Florida to Maine (Sappenfield 29). OxyContin’s legitimate use as a painkiller is to treat people who suffer from chronic pain. It contains the active ingredient Oxycodone that is also the active ingredient in other painkillers such as percocet, percodan, and tylox. OxyContin has been called a “miracle drug” by oxycontin, abuse, drug, officials, purdue, pharma, enforcement, dea, prescription, pain, law, been, stop, deaths, curran, step, robert, efforts, areas, abused, yetter, virginia, plans, plan, eastern, diversion, crimes, company, 25, white, time, state, spake, since, say, rural