The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "OxyContin" ...
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Prescription for Pain
The stories demonstrated that Eastern Kentucky led the nation in the distribution of prescription narcotics-much of it illegal. Reporters found a series of unlikely accomplices to the illegal trafficing including the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Local cops were corrupt or compromised and a $30 million federal enforcement effort was rendered ineffective by a lack of cooperation among the police agencies involved. The reports found an elected judge who admitted that he'd had private business dealings with rug dealers and was unilaterally lowering drug offenders' sentences set by plea bargains. The reporters also found that effecive drug treatment was hard to find in rural areas of Kentucky. The newspaper also produced an examination of how OxyContin was marketed through "detailing," the practice of sending sales men directly into doctor's offices. The reporting also took readers inside one local drug ring. Finally, the newspaper examined how public Medicaid payments were providing some rural Kentucy drug dealsers with millions of silent partners-U.S. taxpayers- who were helping to ensure their supply.
Tags: prescription narcotis; illegal trafficking; federal Drug Enforcement Administration; OxyContin; painkillers; FBI; methanphetamine; taxpayers; medicaid; substance abuse; rural Kentucky; Social Security Administrationn; drug traffickers; drug abuse; lortab; tylox; xanax; cocaine; marijuana; Lee County Sheriff's Department; Beattyville; Beattyville Police; Operation Grinch; Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program; HIDTA; Kentucky State Police; Office of National Drug Control Policy
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Pain Killers
The York Daily Record reports about 20 people that have died from a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs between 2001 and 2002. According to the story "the federal government has identify Pennsylvania as one of several states with a substantial prescription drug problem. However the state does not track the specific drugs responsible in fatal drug overdoses." In 11 of the 20 prescription drug cases, "the York County coroner found OxyContin or oxycodone in the people's systems or among the drugs that they were taking."
Tags: overdose; pain killers; prescription drugs; Oxycontin; oxycodone; illegal drugs; pharmacy; abuse; health care workers; doctors; DEA; FOIA
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Rx for death
Powerful legal narcotics such as OxyContin are causing the deaths of hundreds of Floridians. As attitudes toward pain management relax, some doctors are not paying attention to what medications their patients are using. This leads to cases of dangerous mixing of drugs and/or irresponsible prescribing of drugs.
Tags: pharmaceuticals; OxyContin; prescriptions; medicine; legal drugs; addiction; malpractice; painkillers
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OxyContin Investigation
A WWL-TV investigation discovers that OxyContin, a powerful painkiller popular among drug users, could be easily obtained by prescription from certain doctors. Those were writing prescriptions after performing only cursory physicals, and their offices were crowded by drug addicts until late in the night. Many prescriptions have been filled through Medicaid, WWL-TV reports. The investigation sheds light on one specific case - those of Dr. Jacqueline Cleggett - who wrote an OxyContin prescription to a patient whose son died from an injected overdose.
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; doctors; Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners; law enforcement; police; drug abuse; narcotics; drug dealers
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OxyContin
CBS News reports on the controversy surrounding miracle/menace drug OxyContin. With the number of prescriptions skyrocketing, the number of addicts and overdoses has been too. Many rural areas have been severely affected, leading to drastic increases in robberies and other OxyContin-related crimes. Opponents blame the pharmaceutical company's heavy marketing campaign; supporters say it's still a miracle drug when it comes to controlling pain.
Tags: TAPE; TRANSCRIPT; OxyContin; addiction; prescription medication; drugs
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"The most dangerous drug to hit small-town America since crack cocaine"?
A Spin investigation reveals that OxyContin - supposed to be the strongest and safest painkiller - turned out to cause rush that could rival pure heroin's. The drug caused a new type of frenetic street violence - beatings, fights, and robberies - in the rural areas of the country, the magazine reports. The article depicts the dare problems of the new addicts - including old ladies, teenage drugstore cowboys and young adults. The manufacturer, Purdue Pharma, and the federal regulators failed to anticipate the potential abuse of the 'miracle drug,' the investigation finds.
Tags: prescription drugs; health; heroine; cocaine; Drug Enforcement Administration; business
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Playing With Pain Killers
Newsweek reports on the increased use of painkillers and how many Americans have turned their prescription into an addiction. "In 1999 an estimated 4 million Americans over the age of 12 used prescription pain relievers, sedatives and stimulants for 'nonmedical' reasons in the past month, with almost half saying they'd done so for the first time." Experts and police report the drugs are easy to get and have a wide variety of users. Therefore, making it sometimes difficult to track users down. Doctors and pharmaceutical companies agree that education for prescription pain relievers is crucial to prevent misuse. In addition, Newsweek reports on Hazard, Ky., a small town that has been overtaken with the drug OxyContin and Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain reports on her personal battle with pain pills since 1989,
Tags: prescription pain relievers; Drug Enforcement Administration; painkillers; National Institute on Drug Abuse; doctors; pharmacies