“Steven from St. Petersburg” called into the show.  I doubt that was his real name, but he identified himself as an “OxyContin patient” who has heart problems, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.  He has found that “OxyContin is the only drug that works for him”.   Steven had all the answers.  I asked him if he has tried other drugs and he was convincing that other drugs do not work and he takes his OxyContin responsibly.  Of course, when I asked him about the addictions and deaths attributed to OxyContin, he displayed little sympathy.  

Steven is the perfect caller for the radio show.  He claims to be in pain, claims that OxyContin is the only drug that works for him, claims that he takes no other psychologically addicting drugs, claims he is not addicted, and there is no medical verification for his claims.  At best, maybe a pain management doctor who makes their living by distributing the addictive drugs will verify Steven’s maladies, however Steven didn’t identify where he gets his supply.   

I encourage all to listen to the archived 5/24 show beginning at the 12:10 point.  My guest caller, Ed, read a comment from the petition page that refuted what Steven tried to convincingly tell my audience.  From a Drug Treatment Counselor, “OxyContin creates an altered state” and Steven will remain delusional about the drug until he tries to stop taking it.   I later asked former professional wrestler Glenn Roberson if he has ever known anyone who has gotten better while on the drug OxyContin.  Glenn could not recall a person falling into that category.

Finally, I received an email from a rheumatologist.  “Therefore, whenever I hear about a patient who states that OxyContin is the only drug which works for them and there is little concern about the tens of thousands of people who have died from this drug, the first thing that comes to mind is addiction, which underlies how OxyContin addicts swear by this drug for their own unbalanced self-interests.”