OxyContin killed my son. This drug is handed out like candy. Every year families everywhere are suffering the loss of a loved one from accidental overdoses from this addictive drug. "The Arizona Republic" newspaper reported that Purdue Pharma L.P., the makers of OxyContin, have agreed to pay $19.5 million to 26 states and the District of Columbia to settle complaints over its promotion of OxyContin. The states complained that Purdue encouraged physicians to prescribe OxyContin for use every eight hours, rather than the 12-hour dose approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Off label marketing and other promotion tactics lead to abuse and diversion of prescription drugs. This drug is very addictive. If crushed and snorted, swallowed or injected the pills can produce a "Heroin" like high. The lawsuit also resolves allegations that Purdue Pharma failed to fully disclose the abuse risks of OxyContin.

I had already lost my 17-year-old son Josiah from being killed by a semi truck. His older brother Gabriel, 24 at the time, was in the car following the one Josiah was in. Gabriel rounded the corner of the highway and saw smoke and fire. He said his guts turned over inside him. There was the car his baby brother rode in smashed and on fire. His brother's friends were already dead. Gabriel held Josiah in his arms waiting for help. Josiah died in Gabriel's arms. Part of all of us died that day.

10 months later it was high school graduation time and Josiah wasn't here to graduate. They were honoring Josiah at the ceremony and invited the family to attend. Gabriel called me that evening and said he just could not endure the ceremony. I told him not to worry about it that the rest of the family could represent us and he told me he loved me.

The graduation was excruciating for us. Every student walked by this empty chair and laid a rose on the chair. The empty chair was my baby boy Josiah's. Oh God how it hurt. I was so thankful Gabe wasn't there to endure this.

When I had spoke to Gabriel earlier I never dreamed it would be the last time I ever heard my son's voice.

It was around five in the morning and my son Jared knocked on my bedroom door and said someone was here to see us and it was an emergency. There stood Jessie and Michael, two of our boys best friends. I knew it had to do with Gabriel because Jared was home with us, Josiah lived in Heaven and Adam was in Virginia at the time. I asked, "Is it Gabe?" Jessie just kept crying and saying he was so sorry. The room started spinning and Michael was telling me to breath. I finally screamed out, "Is Gabe dead?" Jessie nodded yes and again said, "I'm so sorry". I remember screaming, "your at the wrong house". What mother could ever imagine she'd go through this hell all over again?

One of Gabriel's best friends and roommate, Gerrad, had found Gabriel dead at their computer. He had taken OxyContin to help him forget his pain for a while. "OxyContin, I hate your guts".

Page 1 of 2 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 | Next