Chemical Dependency | The Media Have Exaggerated the Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis

The media have exaggerated and encouraged the problem of prescription drug abuse, Tom Shales contends in the following viewpoint. He claims that television newscasts are more interested in presenting stories that both demonize and glamorize drugs such as OxyContin than in offering accurate information on these drugs’ medical benefits. In fact, OxyContin is extremely effective as a pain reliever for those suffering intense pain. Unfortunately, Shales maintains, sensationalized news reports may scare doctors away from prescribing OxyContin and other useful drugs. Tom Shales is a...

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