Abuse of Pain Pills Fuels Virus’s Spread, Confounding Regulators
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The abuse of a pain pill from Endo International Plc and its generic copies is being blamed for an increase of hepatitis C among drug addicts -- an unintended consequence of a regulatory decision meant to cut down on misuse.
In 2010, U.S. regulators approved a hard-to-abuse version of Purdue Pharma LP’s OxyContin, which for a long time had been a drug of choice for opioid addicts. They didn’t just quit using, though, flocking instead to Endo’s extended-release Opana and its generics. The wide needle they use is also perfect for spreading blood-borne viruses.