California Senators Urge Purdue Pharma To Name Suspect Physicians

Two California senators are calling on OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to name physicians suspected of liberal prescription practices.

The action was made in response to a recent LA Times article describing a 10 year effort by the corporation to I.D. problematic prescribers of its highly addictive and potent pain killer. Purdue Pharma was able to amass a database of over 1,800 physicians who showed signs of reckless prescribing.

Purdue has appeared to keep its concerns to a minimum, referring a total of 154 cases to medical regulators and authorities since the investigation began in ’02. Legal counsel for Purdue said that the decision as to whether or not to refer a physician was “essentially a judgment call” determined on a case-by-case basis following corporate review.

President of the Medical Board of California, Sharon Levine expressed her approval of the senators’ request and is hoping for Purdue compliance.

“We would be thrilled to have that information,” Levine said. She also stated that although the database would likely lack physical evidence of wrongdoing, that it could offer some valuable leads down the road.

As seen in many other areas of the country, California is struggling with a prescription drug death issue – deemed an “epidemic” by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Purdue’s introduction of a tamper-resistant OxyContin in 2010 sought to make the drug more difficult to abuse. In a recent study performed by Purdue, maximum-strength OxyContin prescriptions – favored by addicts – was shown to have plummeted by a whopping eighty percent following the new pill’s introduction.

Coincidence? We think not.

If you’re struggling with a pain pill addiction, Above it All Addiction Treatment Center is the place to turn. With a team of seasoned rehabilitation specialists available to assess and address your individual needs, you can count on Above it All to have you on the fast track to recovery in no time. Call today!

Choosing Your OxyContin Rehab Facility

If you or someone you know is dealing with an addiction to OxyContin, the first step towards recovery is locating a reputable addiction treatment center. A variety of options are available, including public and private facilities with low to no costs associated with enrollment. In order to locate the best facility, you’ll need to do some research. In the following entry, we will walk you through the process involved in choosing an OxyContin rehab facility.

Step 1 – Determine whether to seek outpatient or inpatient care. Outpatient facilities allow patients to love at home and maintain a job / daily routine during the program. Inpatient facilities require patients to reside at the facility for the duration of treatment.

Step 2 – Take a good look at your financial situation. If you are concerned about the costs associated with treatment, keep a lookout for rehabs that take insurance. Many health care providers offer assistance for clients seeking rehabilitation help, and may even be able to offer assistance in locating a facility. If you lack insurance through your employer, you may want to consider rehab accepting Value Options… an independent behavioral health care and wellness company. 

Step 3 – Locate a facility that offers a variety of therapies. Going into the process, you may not know which type of therapy serves you best. By choosing a facility will customized treatment plans, you can rest easy knowing your options are covered.

Step 4 – Find out specifics in regard to aftercare. A reputable facility will help patients during a following treatment. The costs associated with aftercare should be part of the total cost amount and include regular check-ins and therapy.

Step 5 – If you find yourself interested in multiple facilities, it’s never a bad idea to schedule a tour. This will allow you to gain a first-hand look at the property and discuss possible treatment options with the staff. If you find yourself feeling anxious or uncomfortable, you’ll know to look elsewhere.

OxyContin Rehab – Recognizing The Problem

Addicts in need of Oxycontin rehab may require a little help recognizing their addiction. When an individual is in a large amount of pain, prescription medications are an easy way to regain temporary function. Unfortunately, long-term use of these substances rarely solves anything, resulting only in a vicious dependency cycle. Due to the fact that these pain-killers are both mentally and physically addictive, those who gain a dependency will do most anything to maintain a steady intake. If you believe yourself or someone you know to be an Oxycontin addict, the following steps can be used to identify the issue.

Step 1 – Be honest. Though it’s certainly much easier to brush the issue aside, procrastination and ego-trips will get you nowhere. If you believe yourself to have a dependency issue, chances are, you probably do.

Step 2 – Does it annoy you when friends and family members bring up your Oxycontin use? In most every case of addiction, defensiveness is a fairly clear sign that you may have an issue.

Step 3 – Do you find yourself feeling guilty about your pain current pain killer use? Guilt is one of the many signs that you are likely already immersed or headed toward an addiction.

Step 4 – Determine whether you commonly use Oxycontin at a higher dose than recommended. Do you need them to get to sleep or to perk up in the morning? Perhaps before an important business meeting or a family function? Self-medicating at higher doses than prescribed signals an evolving tolerance, which can many times lead to dependency.

Step 5 – If you are still having doubts, you may want to get in touch with a Oxycontin rehab treatment specialist. Depending on how far along your addiction is, there are a number of things that can be done to help you correct the issue at hand. If it is determined that an unhealthy dependency is apparent, you may want to consider researching local treatment for Oxycontin addicts to help you through the recovery process.