Updated April 24, 2015.
So, what's the true issue here? Whose rights should prevail? Whom should law enforcement, legislators, and the DEA be protecting and serving? Some points for consideration:

• OxyContin®, used as intended, is a safe medication.
• The medical community has a responsibility to treat legitimate pain.
• The abuse of OxyContin® and related incidents, such as pharmacy robberies, are already crimes as defined by current laws that need to be enforced.

• If OxyContin® is harder to get, it may harm legitimate patients more than than the abusers. It could provoke more robberies, and make the dealers more money as the street price goes up.
      

Points for consideration from a different slant:

• Pharmacy owners and employees have the right to work in safety, without fear of robbery for their OxyContin® supplies.
• Children need to be protected, even from themselves, at times.
• Illicit sales of even prescription drugs lead to a higher rate of crime.
     

From some of our forum members:
  (Click HERE to join the discussion)

• OxyContin® as a result of pain from injuries sustained in severe automobile accidents. I had 14 hours of surgery to rebuild my spine ... I know that I am still a contributing member of society only because the medicine does make it possible for me to withstand the pain enough to work. All we are hearing from the "press" are the horror stories and nothing about those whose lives have literally been SAVED by it. I know from experience that my wife might well possibly not be here if it hadn't been for this miracle that actually gave her enough help so that she retains the will to live..."

• "I actually had tried suicide 3 times before I found a pain specialist who prescribed enough narcotics for me to live and function. Too many Drs. are afraid of narcotics and addiction (which they shouldn't be if they are taken for pain you don't get high) and of the the DEA. I just thank god every day there are people out there who understand and can help those of us in pain."
• OxyContin® thing really burns my bacon. Crush it up and stick it up your nose, then sue the company. Take it 8 times a day instead of the prescribed 2 or 3 times a day then sue the company. Ever hear of Percocet (Roxicet, Endocet)? they also contain oxycodone, but in an immediate release form like a normal tablet. The only thing unique about OxyContin® is the sustained-release action. But because of this sustained action capability, they can package into it 20, 40, 60, 80 mg instead of the usual 5 mg. Try taking 2 Percocet every hour all day long and get the same effect."
      

Let's go back to the original questions posed:

• What's the REAL issue?
• the "Oxy" controversy endanger the rights of legitimate patients?

Now, let's add a question: Who do you think is most responsible for OxyContin® abuse? We asked that very question in a poll on our site. With 2,006 votes cast, the results were:

• abusers: 1159 votes, 57.78%
• abuse is greatly exaggerated: 306 votes, 15.25%
• criminals, "pushers:" 142 votes, 7.08%
• media 131 votes, 6.53%
• government (FDA, etc.): 107 votes, 5.33%
• doctors: 92 votes, 4.59%
• manufacturer: 30 votes, 1.49%
• society: 24 Votes, 1.2%
• abusers' families: 15 votes, 0.75%

What do you think? Who knows? Maybe you need medication such as OxyContin®. If not, you might be - someday. Please join us in the forum for more discussion of this vitally important issue.

_____________________
References:

¹ Richard Liebson, "Patients With Chronic Pain Fear OxyContin Backlash," The Journal News. August 12, 2001.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/081201/12oxycontin.html

² Linda Marsa, "OxyContin Abuse May Curb Progress in Pain Field," The Los Angeles Times. August 13, 2001.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-000065671aug13.story
Points to consider and the results of our poll So, what's the true issue here? Whose rights should prevail? Whom should law enforcement, legislators, and the DEA be protecting and serving? Some points for consideration:

• OxyContin®, used as intended, is a safe medication.
• The medical community has a responsibility to treat legitimate pain.
• The abuse of OxyContin® and related incidents, such as pharmacy robberies, are already crimes as defined by current laws that need to be enforced.
• If OxyContin® is harder to get, it may harm legitimate patients more than than the abusers. It could provoke more robberies, and make the dealers more money as the street price goes up.
      

Points for consideration from a different slant:

• Pharmacy owners and employees have the right to work in safety, without fear of robbery for their OxyContin® supplies.
• Children need to be protected, even from themselves, at times.
• Illicit sales of even prescription drugs lead to a higher rate of crime.
     

From some of our forum members:
  (Click HERE to join the discussion)

• OxyContin® as a result of pain from injuries sustained in severe automobile accidents. I had 14 hours of surgery to rebuild my spine ... I know that I am still a contributing member of society only because the medicine does make it possible for me to withstand the pain enough to work. All we are hearing from the "press" are the horror stories and nothing about those whose lives have literally been SAVED by it. I know from experience that my wife might well possibly not be here if it hadn't been for this miracle that actually gave her enough help so that she retains the will to live..."
• "I actually had tried suicide 3 times before I found a pain specialist who prescribed enough narcotics for me to live and function. Too many Drs. are afraid of narcotics and addiction (which they shouldn't be if they are taken for pain you don't get high) and of the the DEA. I just thank god every day there are people out there who understand and can help those of us in pain."
• OxyContin® thing really burns my bacon. Crush it up and stick it up your nose, then sue the company. Take it 8 times a day instead of the prescribed 2 or 3 times a day then sue the company. Ever hear of Percocet (Roxicet, Endocet)? they also contain oxycodone, but in an immediate release form like a normal tablet. The only thing unique about OxyContin® is the sustained-release action. But because of this sustained action capability, they can package into it 20, 40, 60, 80 mg instead of the usual 5 mg. Try taking 2 Percocet every hour all day long and get the same effect."
      

Let's go back to the original questions posed:

• What's the REAL issue?
• the "Oxy" controversy endanger the rights of legitimate patients?

Now, let's add a question: Who do you think is most responsible for OxyContin® abuse? We asked that very question in a poll on our site. With 2,006 votes cast, the results were:

• abusers: 1159 votes, 57.78%
• abuse is greatly exaggerated: 306 votes, 15.25%
• criminals, "pushers:" 142 votes, 7.08%
• media 131 votes, 6.53%
• government (FDA, etc.): 107 votes, 5.33%
• doctors: 92 votes, 4.59%
• manufacturer: 30 votes, 1.49%
• society: 24 Votes, 1.2%
• abusers' families: 15 votes, 0.75%

What do you think? Who knows? Maybe you need medication such as OxyContin®. If not, you might be - someday. Please join us in the forum for more discussion of this vitally important issue.

_____________________
References:

¹ Richard Liebson, "Patients With Chronic Pain Fear OxyContin Backlash," The Journal News. August 12, 2001.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/081201/12oxycontin.html

² Linda Marsa, "OxyContin Abuse May Curb Progress in Pain Field," The Los Angeles Times. August 13, 2001.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-000065671aug13.story