For an unexplained reason, too many journalists in Florida continue to support the marketing hoax of the legal narcotics. On Feb 12th, an article in the Tampa Bay Times castigated a pharmacy for not taking greater safeguards for a drug deal (90 OxyContin and 180 oxycodone). http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/law-doesnt-require-id-to-pick-up-prescription-drugs/1215058 There was no mention of the horrible medical care the gentleman was receiving who was facing severe withdrawal if he did not receive his narcotics in a timely fashion.
On Feb 20th, NBC 2 from the Fort Myers/Naples area had an expose lambasting pharmacists who did not want to be the middleman for a narcotics deal. http://www.nbc-2.com/story/16974539/2012/02/20/nbc2-investigates-persciptions-denied The television station featured a patient who also received horrible medical care for a condition that competent doctors would not suggest large doses of debilitating narcotics for. The on air anchor during the broadcast equally displayed her ignorance on the epidemic.
Fortunately, writers around North America are understanding the epidemic and it’s root cause. John Fauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, recently revealed the massive marketing ploy coordinated by the pain industry, drug companies, The Federation of Medical Boards, http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/painkiller-boom-fueled-by-networking-dp3p2rn-139609053.html and a phony think tank that was revealed in a previous John Fauber article. http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/119130114.html
Recently, the Ontario Province has stopped paying for OxyContin, except in limited exceptions. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/OxyContin+disaster/6201500/story.html We finally have a government agency stepping forward with understanding the “hoax of OxyContin”.
Guy Taylor, supported by the Fund for Investigative Journalism detailed the complicity of the DEA in order for the drug companies to increase the legal narcotic production dramatically over recent years. http://politics.salon.com/2011/10/11/as_abuse_mounted_dea_boosted_painkiller_supply/
Marianne Skolek of Salem-News.com has written for a number of years revealing the connections that Purdue Pharma have used to foster the hoax of narcotics for chronic pain. http://www.salem-news.com/by_author.php?reporter=Marianne%20Skolek
ProPublica recently published an article on the connection between drug company money and faculty members at the University California Davis Medical School and the Utah School of Medicine. http://www.propublica.org/article/two-leaders-in-pain-treatment-have-long-ties-to-drug-industry
It is clear that the writer from the Tampa Bay Times and the journalist and anchor people from NBC 2 continue to be influenced by the multimillion dollar expenditures documented by previous exemplary efforts by their contemporaries.
It is the radio shows hope that the management of the Tampa Bay Times and NBC 2 encourage their employees to become more aware of the community and economic burden the unhindered distribution of the drugs are creating on a daily basis. More reporters are becoming educated, but unfortunately the state that has suffered the most damage has the slowest learners.
From the 3/4 Show – Withdrawal, Addiction, Death and Destruction – The Sackler Family
My thanks to Geraldine Burns, Jennifer Roeder and David Knight for bringing a greater awareness of the benzodiazepine family of drugs to the radio show Sunday night. The benzodiazepines include the generic names diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, triazolam, chlordiazepoxide, and about twenty additional drugs in the family. Most people still refer to the family by their original brand names; Librium, Valium, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_benzodiazepines
There are a number of web sites available to help people navigate the dangers the benzodiazepines offer too often. http://www.benzosupport.org/ (support the FDA petition) In 1979, Senator Edward Kennedy had a Congressional hearing on the benzodiazepines and twenty years ago a detailed paper was published detailing the introduction of Xanax. http://www.benzo.org.uk/xanax2.htm The benzodiazepine family of drugs is another example of “not safe as prescribed”.
Shockingly, starting with the mass marketing of Librium and Valium in the early 1960′s, the problems the family of benzodiazepines has created in this country is well documented. A conservative number of 25% of the individuals who take the benzodiazepines for a long period of time will develop physical dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms. Those on alprazolam will face over a 50% possibility of sickness when trying to stop taking the drug.
Geraldine, Jennifer and David all helped emphasize the dangers and reality of a phenomena that has remained for almost 50 years and quietly suppressed. Over 100 million prescriptions are written yearly for a benzodiazepine drug and the human and economic damages from the drugs could be extrapolated into the billions of dollars.
I discovered an unbelievable reality in doing research for the show. Arthur Sackler was considered the mastermind of bringing Valium to America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_M._Sackler The ingenious marketing behind Valium offered a panacea for both the doctor (money) and patient (hope).
Arthur Sackler’s two younger brothers, Mortimer and Raymond started Purdue Pharma which brought OxyContin into every community in North America. The damage and destruction since the introduction of OxyContin is well documented http://banoxycontin.com
The Sackler family is well known for their philanthropy in terms of donating to medical institutions, museums and education. Even Arthur Sackler’s daughter, Elizabeth has attempted to hide the origins of the money she donates with. http://lib.stanford.edu/women-art-revolution/bio-elizabeth-sackler
It is ironic to this radio show host that a single family in the course of over 50 years could be responsible for so much damage to so many families and think that their contributions can erase the memories of so many victims.
It appears that the elitist followers of art and education are not very bright. The silence continues.