RSD In the News : FWD: a correction of newsweeks story

The Newsweek cover story, “The Changing Science of Pain” (6/4/07), refers to the challenge of treating the chronic pain that over 75 million Americans suffer each day. The article touched briefly on the delicate balance needed to provide relief from chronic pain, while also minimizing the risk of abuse by those who might alter the way it is meant to be taken.

Near the beginning of the article it states that “Patients can still become dependent on a new form of the morphine derivative called Kadian, for instance, but if they crush one of the pills for snorting, its center explodes, releasing a substance that block the euphoric high.” Kadian, which is currently on the market, does not contain a substance that blocks the euphoric high.

Currently, the long acting forms of morphine, like Kadian, Avinza and MSContin, do not have a reversal medication (opioid antagonist) included in their formulation as that sentence implies. However, there are other opioid formulations with antagonists or other tamper resistant properties under investigation or clinical trials with pharmaceutical companies like Alpharma (the maker of Kadian), Pain Therapeutics and Purdue Pharma.

Newsweek has notified APF that they will be running a clarification to this effect in next week's issue.

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