The OxyContin crisis: Problematisation and responsibilisation strategies in addiction, pain, and general medicine journals

International Journal of Drug Policy

Volumn 24, Issue 5, 2013, Pages 402-411

  Whelan, Emma ^a   Asbridge, Mark ^a  

^a DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY   (Canada)

Author keywords

Addiction medicine; Moral regulation; OxyContin; Pain medicine; Social problems

Indexed keywords

ANALGESIC AGENT; DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ADDICTION; OXYCODONE;

ARTICLE; CHRONIC PAIN; CONTINUING EDUCATION; DRUG ABUSE; DRUG DEPENDENCE; DRUG INDUSTRY; ETHICAL THEORY; GENERAL PRACTICE; GOVERNMENT REGULATION; HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL; HUMAN; LAW ENFORCEMENT; MASS COMMUNICATION; MEDICAL ETHICS; MEDICAL LITERATURE; MEDICAL RESEARCH; MEDICAL SOCIETY; MORALITY; OPIATE ADDICTION; PAIN; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP; QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS; SOCIAL PROBLEM; SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY; TREATMENT RESPONSE;

ADDICTION MEDICINE; MORAL REGULATION; OXYCONTIN; PAIN MEDICINE; SOCIAL PROBLEMS;

ATTITUDE OF HEALTH PERSONNEL; HUMANS; OXYCODONE; PAIN; PERIODICALS AS TOPIC; SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS;

EID: 84884593932     PISSN: 09553959     EISSN: 18734758     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.01.007     Document Type: Article

References (97)

1. Armstrong E.G. Moral panic over meth. Contemporary Justice Review 2007, 10(4):427-442.
2. Babbage, M. (2012). Ontario urges other provinces, territories to push for generic oxycodone ban. The Globe & Mail (electronic edition), November 23. Accessed 03.01.2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-urges-other-provinces-territories-to-push-for-generic-oxycodone-ban/article5623395/.
3. Bartleson J.D. Evidence for and against the use of opioid analgesics for chronic nonmalignant low back pain: A review. Pain Medicine 2002, 3(3):260-271.
4. Bell K., Salmon A. Pain, physical dependence and pseudoaddiction: Redefining addiction for 'nice' people?. International Journal of Drug Policy 2009, 20:170-178.
5. Boyd S., Carter C.I. Methamphetamine discourse: Media, law, and policy. Canadian Journal of Communication 2010, 35(2):219-237.
6. Brands B., Blake J., Sproule B., Gourlay D., Busto U. Prescription opioid abuse in patients presenting for methadone maintenance treatment. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2004, 73(2):199-207.
7. Butterworth, T. (2012). Is the era of OxyContin abuse over? Forbes (electronic edition), December 13. Accessed 03.01.2013. http://www.forbes.com/sites/trevorbutterworth/2012/12/13/is-the-era-of-oxycontin-abuse-over.
8. Camus, T. (2004). Addict boyfriend jailed for OxyContin beating of cancer sufferer. The Chronicle Herald, March 26, p. A1.
9. Catan, T. (2012). Endo loses bid to stop generic version of its painkiller. The Wall Street Journal (electronic edition), December 20. Accessed 07.01.2013. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323777204578191170455796716.html.
10. Cavaan, A.M. (2001). OxyContin crime wave hits nursing home. The Boston Herald, August 24, p. 1.
11. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2004). What is Oxycontin? Accessed 06.03.2006. http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Drug_and_Addiction_Information/oxycontin_facts.html.
12. ® and other opioid analgesics in the United States: 2002-2004. The Journal of Pain 2005, 6(10):662-672.
13. CMAJ News Brief OxyContin class-action suit to proceed. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2003, 169(7):699.
14. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. (2010). Avoiding abuse, achieving a balance: Tackling the opioid public health crisis. Accessed 02.12.2011. http://www.cpso.on.ca/uploadedFiles/policies/positions/Opioid%20report%20final.pdf.
15. Cone E.J. Ephemeral profiles of prescription drug and formulation tampering: Evolving pseudoscience on the Internet. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2006, 83:S31-S39.
16. Dasgupta N. Breaking the news or fueling the epidemic? Temporal association between news media report volume and opioid-related mortality. PLoS ONE 2009, 4(11):e7758.
17. Dasgupta N., Kramer E.D., Zalman M.-A., Carino S., Smith M.Y., Haddox J.D., et al. Association between non-medical and prescriptive usage of opioids. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2006, 82(2):135-142.
18. Davis W.R., Johnson B.D. Prescription opioid use, misuse, and diversion among street drug users in New York City. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2008, 92(1-3):267-276.
19. Dean M. A social structure of many souls: Moral regulation, government, and self-formation. Canadian Journal of Sociology 1994, 19(2):145-168.
20. Dhalla I., Mamdani M., Sivilotti M.L.A., Kopp A., Qureshi O., Juurlink D.N. Prescribing of opioid analgesics and related mortality before and after the introduction of long-acting oxycodone. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2009, 181(12):891-896.
21. Dhalla I.A., Persaud N., Juurlink D. Facing up to the prescription opioid crisis. British Medical Journal 2011, 343:d5142.
22. Diebel, L. (2012). Critics allege OxyNEO was introduced in Canada because of impending patent expiry. Toronto Star (electronic version), April 21. Accessed 10.09.2012. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1165664--critics-allege-oxyneo-was-introduced-in-canada-because-of-impending-patent-expiry.
23. Dunn K.M., Saunders K.W., Rutter C.M., Banta-Green C.J., Merrill J.O., Sullivan M.D., et al. Opioid prescriptions for chronic pain and overdose. Annals of Internal Medicine 2010, 152(2):85-92.
24. Duster T. The legislation of morality: Law, drugs, and moral judgement 1970, Free Press, New York.
25. Eban K. Painful medicine. Fortune 2011, 164:142-152.
26. Foucault M. The subject and power. Michel Foucault: Beyond structuralism and hermeneutics 1983, 208-226. University of California Press, Berkeley. 2nd ed. H. Dreyfus, P. Rabinow (Eds.).
27. Fulde G.W.O., Wodak A. Ice: Cool drug or real problem?. Medical Journal of Australia 2007, 186(7):334-335.
28. Gabe J. Benzodiazepines as a social problem: The case of Halcion. Substance Use and Misuse 2001, 36(9-10):1233-1259.
29. Garland D. The culture of control: Crime and social order in contemporary society 2001, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
30. Gillis, C. (2004). A prescription for ruin: Illicit trade in the painkiller OxyContin is bringing crime, addiction-and death-to the Atlantic provinces. Maclean's, May 24, pp. 54-58.
31. Gilson A.M., Ryan K.M., Joranson D.E., Dahl J.L. A reassessment of trends in the medical use and abuse of opioid analgesics and implications for diversion control: 1997-2002. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2004, 28(2):176-188.
32. Globe Editorial. (2012). Ottawa won't ban generic form of OxyContin. Globe & Mail (electronic edition), November 19. Accessed 03.01.2013. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/editorials/ottawa-wont-ban-generic-form-of-oxycontin/article5442168/.
33. Gourlay D.L., Heit H.A., Almahrezi A. Universal precautions in pain medicine: A rational approach to the treatment of chronic pain. Pain Medicine 2005, 6(2):107-112.
34. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2004). OxyContin task force final report. Accessed 13.07.2012. http://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publications/oxycontin_final_report.pdf.
35. ® a "Gateway drug"?. American Journal on Addictions 2007, 16(3):166-173.
36. Gugelmann H.M., Perrone J. Can prescription drug monitoring programs help limit opioid abuse?. Journal of the American Medical Association 2011, 306(20):2258-2259.
37. Gupta, S., & Cohen, E. (2012). Concerns about generic painkillers increase. The Chart, CNN Health, December 14. Accessed 07.01.2013. http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/14/concerns-about-generic-painkillers-increase/.
38. Gusfield J.R. Symbolic crusade: Status politics and the American temperance movement 1963, University of Illinois Press, Urbana.
39. Haydon E., Rehm J., Fischer B., Monga N., Adlaf E. Prescription drug abuse in Canada and the diversion of prescription drugs into the illicit drug market. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2005, 96(6):459-461.
40. Hays L.R. A profile of OxyContin addiction. Journal of Addictive Diseases 2004, 23(4):1-9.
41. Houston Chronicle. (2001). 'Hillbilly Heroin' ravaging remote Maine; OxyContin's potent, heroin-like high traps drug abusers in poor, rural areas. The Houston Chronicle, October 14, p. A41.
42. Hunt A. Governing morals: A social history of moral regulation 1999, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
43. Hurwitz W. The challenge of prescription drug misuse: A review and commentary. Pain Medicine 2005, 6(2):152-161.
44. Inciardi J.A., Surratt H.L., Kurtz S.P., Burke J.J. The diversion of prescription drugs by health care workers in Cincinnati, Ohio. Substance Use and Misuse 2006, 41(2):255-264.
45. Jensen E.L., Gerber J., Babcock G.M. The new war on drugs: Grass roots movement or political construction?. Journal of Drug Issues 1991, 21(3):651-667.
46. Joranson D.E., Gilson A.M. Drug crime is a source of abused pain medications in the United States. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2005, 30(4):299-301.
47. Katz N., Dart R.C., Bailey E., Trudeau J., Osgood E., Paillard F. Tampering with prescription opioids: Nature and extent of the problem, health consequences, and solutions. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2011, 37(4):205-217.
48. Kaye S., Drake S. The diversion and misuse of pharmaceutical stimulants: What do we know and why should we care?. Addiction 2012, 107(3):467-477.
49. Kaye S., Drake S., Torok M. The diversion and misuse of stimulant medication for ADHD among illicit psychostimulant users. Drug and Alcohol Review 2011, 30(S1):50.
50. Kitsuse J.I., Spector M. Toward a sociology of social problems. Social Problems 1973, 20:407-419.
51. Knudsen H.K., Ducharme L.J., Roman P.M. Controlled-release oxycodone admissions in public and private substance abuse treatment: Associations with organizational characteristics. Journal of Addictive Diseases 2007, 26(1):41-50.
52. Leong M., Murnion B., Haber P.S. Examination of opioid prescribing in Australia from 1992 to 2007. Internal Medicine Journal 2009, 39(10):676-681.
53. Leukefeld C., McDonald H.S., Mateyoke-Scrivner A., Roberto H., Walker R., Webster M., et al. Prescription drug use, health services utilization, and health problems in rural Appalachian Kentucky. Journal of Drug Issues 2005, 35(3):631-643.
54. Lipman A.G. What have we learned from OxyContin?. Journal of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy 2003, 17(1):1-4.
55. McCabe S.E., Teter C.J., Boyd C.J. The use, misuse and diversion of prescription stimulants among middle and high school students. Substance Use and Misuse 2004, 39(7):1095-1116.
56. McCabe S.E., Cranford J.A., Morales M., Young A. Simultaneous and concurrent polydrug use of alcohol and prescription drugs: Prevalence, correlates, and consequences. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 2006, 67(4):529-537.
57. Constructionist controversies: Issues in social problems theory 1993, Aldine de Gruyter, New York. G. Miller, J.A. Holstein (Eds.).
58. Moulton D. "Hillbilly heroin" arrives in Cape Breton. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2003, 168(9):1172.
59. Moulton D. Oxycodone users beware. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2004, 170(6):942.
60. Nagel, L., & Good, P. (2001). DEA-industry communicator OxyContin special. Accessed 10.03.2006. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/nwslttr/spec2001/index.htm.
61. National Drug Intelligence Center. (2001). OxyContin diversion and abuse. Accessed 09.03.2006. http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs/651/abuse.htm.
62. National Opioid Use Guideline Group. (2010). Canadian guideline for safe and effective use of Opioids for chronic non-cancer pain (electronic version). Accessed 10.09.2012. http://nationalpaincentre.mcmaster.ca/opioid/.
63. No Author Pain specialists embrace balanced approach to opioid therapy. Journal of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy 2003, 17(3-4):262-263.
64. Novak S., Nemeth W.C., Lawson K.A. Trends in medical use and abuse of sustained-release opioid analgesics: A revisit. Pain Medicine 2004, 5(1):59-65.
65. O'Malley P. Risk, uncertainty and government 2004, Cavendish Press/Glasshouse, London.
66. ®. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2001, 21(5):359-360.
67. Passik S.D. Same as it ever was? Life after the OxyContin™ media frenzy. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2003, 25(3):199-201.
68. Percudani M., Barbui C., Fortino I., Petrovich L. Antipsychotic drug prescribing in the elderly is cause for concern. International Clinical Psychopharmacology 2004, 19(6):347-350.
69. Peyrot M. Cycles of social problem development: The case of drug abuse. Sociological Quarterly 1984, 25:83-89.
70. Portenoy R.K. Opioid therapy for chronic nonmalignant pain: Clinicians' perspective. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics 1996, 24(4):296-309.
71. Potter J.S., Hennessey G., Borrow J.A., Greenfield S.F., Weiss R.D. Substance use histories in patients seeking treatment for controlled-release oxycodone dependence. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2004, 76(2):213-215.
72. Rabiner D.L., Anastopoulos A.D., Costello E.J., Hoyle R.H., McCabe S.E., Swartzwelder H.S. The misuse and diversion of prescribed ADHD medications by college students. Journal of Attention Disorders 2009, 13(2):144-153.
73. Reinarman C. The social construction of drug scares. Constructions of deviance: Social power, context and interaction 1994, 92-105. Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, CA. P. Adler, P.A. Adler (Eds.).
74. Reinarman C. The social impact of drugs and the war on drugs: The social construction of drug scares. The war on drugs: Addicted to failure. Recommendation of the Los Angles Citizens Commission on U.S. Drug Policy 1999, 58-79. Institute for Policy Studies.
75. Reinarman C., Levine H. Crack in context: Politics and the media in the making of a drug scare. Contemporary Drug Problems 1989, 16:535-577.
76. Rigg K.K., Kurtz S.P., Surratt H.L. Patterns of prescription medication diversion among drug dealers. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy 2012, 19(2):145-155.
77. Rintoul A.C., Dobbin M.D.H., Drummer O.H., Ozanne-Smith J. Increasing deaths involving oxycodone, Victoria, Australia, 2000-09. Injury Prevention 2011, 17(4):254-259.
78. Rogers A., Pilgrim D., Brennan S., Sulaiman I., Watson G., Chew-Graham C. Prescribing benzodiazepines in general practice: A new view of an old problem. Health 2007, 11(2):181-198.
79. Rubington E., Weinberg M.S. Social problems and sociology. The study of social problems: Seven perspectives 2003, 3-11. Oxford University Press, New York. 6th ed. E. Rubington, M.S. Weinberg (Eds.).
80. Savage, S., Covington, E.C., Gilson, A.M., Gourlay, D., Heit, H.A., & Hunt, J.B. (2004). Public policy statement on the rights and responsibilities of healthcare professionals in the use of opioids for the treatment of pain: A consensus document from the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Accessed 04.02.2010. http://www.ampainsoc.org/advocacy/pdf/rights.pdf.
81. Seddon T. A history of drugs: Drugs and freedom in the liberal age 2010, Routledge, Abingdon.
82. Sees K.L., Di Marino M.E., Ruediger N.K., Sweeney C.T., Shiffman S. Non-medical use of OxyContin tablets in the United States. Journal of Palliative Care and Pharmacotherapy 2005, 19(2):13-23.
83. Shield K.D., Ialomiteanu A., Fischer B., Mann R.E., Rehm J. Non-medical use of prescription opioids among Ontario adults: Data from the 2008/2009 CAMH monitor. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2011, 102(5):330-335.
84. Spector M., Kitsuse J.I. Constructing social problems 1987, Aldine de Gruyter, Hawthorne, NY.
85. Stefan J., Mathew B. Khat chewing: An emergency drug concern in Australia?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2005, 39(9):842-843.
86. Steinbrook R. Perspective - The prescription-drug problem. New England Journal of Medicine 2002, 346(11):790.
87. Sullivan P. OxyContin-abuse problem appears limited to US. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2001, 165(5):624.
88. Thomas, K., & Meier, B. (2013). Drug makers losing a bid to foil generic painkillers. New York Times (electronic edition), January 1. Accessed 03.01.2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/health/drug-makers-losing-a-bid-to-foil-generic-painkillers.html.
89. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion Control. (2003). OxyContin diversion and abuse. Accessed 09.03.2006. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/oxycodone/oxy_oct2003.pdf.
90. U.S.Government Accounting Office OxyContin abuse and diversion and efforts to address the problem: Highlights of a government report. Journal of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy 2004, 18(3):109-113.
91. Valverde M. Diseases of the will: Alcohol and the dilemmas of freedom 1998, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
92. Warner, M., Chen, L.H., & Makuc, D.M. (2009). Increase in fatal poisonings involving opioid analgesics in the United States, 1999-2006. NCHS Data Brief, No. 22. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db22.pdf.
93. Whelan E., Asbridge M., Haydt S. Representations of OxyContin in North American newspapers and medical journals. Pain Research and Management 2011, 16(4):252-258.
94. Wilens T.E., Gignac M., Swezey A., Monuteaux M.C., Biederman J. Characteristics of adolescents and young adults with ADHD who divert or misuse their prescribed medications. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2006, 45(4):408-414.
95. Wilens T.E., Adler L.A., Adams J., Sgambati S., Rotrosen J., Sawtelle R., et al. Misuse and diversion of stimulants prescribed for ADHD: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2008, 47(1):21-31.
96. Wilford B.B., Finch J., Czechowicz D.J., Warren D. An overview of prescription drug misuse and abuse-Defining the problem and seeking solutions. The Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics 1994, 22(3):197-203.
97. Yelaja, P. (2012). OxyContin replacement may not solve abuse. CBC News (electronic version). Accessed 10.09.2012. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/02/27/oxycontin-new-formulation.html.