Letters_11-06

Back to HomeLetters - February 10, 2011Letters: February 10

Re: Oxycintin in Rural Communities, Steve Giles

Heritage Fever, Mike Procter

10% of what, Mr. Premier?, Jim Beam

Re: Oxycontin in rural communities

I can’t fault Jeff Green for writing such an unbalanced article about oxycontin (The Frontenac News, Feb. 3, 2011: Oxycontin: rural communities face their own issues) considering that the panel only represented those opposed to the use of oxycontin and the other doctors who were consulted restricted their opinion to the illicit use of the drug. As for the panel discussion, without hearing contrasting viewpoints, the audience went away with falsehoods, incomplete facts and distorted impressions. I am writing this for all the patients who carefully take oxycontin and for the thousands of doctors across Ontario who prescribe oxycontin and supervise those patients, thus enabling them to enjoy productive lives.

First of all, the entire discussion fails to differentiate between the approved use and the illicit/abusive use of oxycontin. The statement “It is not overstating it to say that over-use of pharmaceuticals has become a crisis in Ontario” followed by a description of the effects of illicit use of oxycontin gives the impression that demand by patients and over-prescribing by doctors is the problem.  The debate over the use of pharmaceuticals in medicine is ongoing and only peripheral to the discussion on the dangers of oxycontin.  But the remark nicely set the stage for the suggestion that the use of oxycontin should be discontinued in Ontario.

It is not true that oxycontin users develop a tolerance for oxycontin and have to take more and more to get the same theraputic value. Abusers and illicit users develop psychological issues, which lead them to take more and more but this doesn’t happen in patients who are taking the drug carefully under a physician’s care. The medical literature states it as: “Dosage escalations are attributable to worsening of the underlying painful condition or a medical complication therein.”  There is no physiological evidence to indicate that oxycontin causes increased tolerance. Actually this is the same as alcohol: abusers will drink more and more while disciplined drinkers can enjoy a glass of wine every day without fear that they will turn into alcoholics.

I recently sat with an elderly gentleman at a community luncheon and, hearing that his wife had died, asked him how he was doing. When he said his worst problem was his pain, I wasn’t surprised because he was sad; his life was drained. I asked him if he had been to his doctor and what was he taking. He said Tylenol but it didn’t help. And he had given up on his doctor. Here he was taking enough Tylenol to fry his liver and his doctor had nothing to offer. How many rural people are suffering in pain without hope? How many doctors are afraid of liability, of governmental or professional oversight or lack training in prescribing opiates?  We don’t have a street problem in the country, we have a professional medical problem. By the way, it’s not about MANAGING PAIN, it’s about LIVING NORMALLY!

Steve Giles

Heritage Fever

The Frontenac Heritage Festival is a fun way to learn about our history and to enjoy our great Canadian winter. It can also be a much-needed boost to local businesses in this traditionally “slow” season. Instead of hibernating this winter perhaps we can all get into the spirit of the Heritage Festival and embrace the season that more than any other, defines Canada and our heritage. I propose that for the week preceding the Frontenac Heritage Festival (Feb 21-25) everyone wear some article of clothing that in some way identifies with our heritage. For example, an old style railway hat or a top hat, dresses and shirts that might have been worn in the 1800s, suspenders, moccasins, lumberjack clothes, a trapper’s outfit, even a cleaning woman’s mop hat....the list is endless.  Imagine the spirit that could be created if schools, stores, offices, everyone adopted the dress of our ancestors just for a week. Or alternately, buttons and toques are available that you can purchase and wear to show your support and spirit. I hope that you will mark the week of February 21 - 25 and put together some clothes that will make this Heritage Festival a little bit special. Heritage Fever is Fun.

Mike Procter

10% of what, Mr. Premier?

I just received my bill from Hydro One yesterday and as the premier has recently promised and has been all over the radio, TV, and in the press the last little while, I was anxiously awaiting the bill to see what my 10% Ontario Clean Energy Benefit would mean to my bill. WOW, can you believe this! My equal billing amount was exactly the same, $277, as last month, my charge per kilowatt hour was exactly the same, 6.4 and 7.4 cents but Pinocchio McGuinty and his 10% reduction amounted to a grand total of $4.82.

As a former math teacher, I consider myself quite good in the subject but there is absolutely no way I can find any calculations that could come up with $4.82 representing a 10% reduction in my hydro costs.

I guess this is just another scam by the Provincial Liberals to try and explain away outrageous spending and more broken promises. Please make him stop opening his mouth and spouting more things that just aren’t true!

Jim Beam