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Article: Pain med valuable treatment
- Article from:
- Sunday Gazette-Mail
- Article date:
- July 23, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Sunday Gazette-Mail. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Last month, the Gazette-Mail ran a series of articles titled "The
Killer Cure" about methadone. The articles correctly pointed out that
methadone can be a dangerous drug and that improper usage has
resulted in fatalities. The articles suggest that most of the time,
the deaths occurred when methadone was prescribed by physicians who
were not experienced with its use. While I commend the writers on the
accuracy of their reporting, I am concerned that readers might
conclude that no one should take methadone. If they reach that
conclusion, it would be a shame.
As a palliative medicine physician at West Virginia University
Hospital who treats patients in severe pain at the end of life, I ...