Critics fear Oxycontin study could lead to more addictions - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

Parents concerned about a new study involving the addictive drug Oxycontin warn it could be the next step in approving the drug for use in pain management for children. Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer, is conducting the study following a request from the FDA.

Food and drug officials asked the company to perform the study in exchange for a lucrative six month patent extension. The research requirements stipulate its 154 patients must be children between six and 16 years old suffering from moderate to severe pain who are already receiving treatment with opioids.

Although Oxycontin is only approved for adults right now, experts believe doctors have been prescribing it to children for years "off-label," to treat moderate and severe pain. Some parents believe approving the drug for kids would be helpful, but critics argue it will lead to more addictions.

"It's a fine line between, 'is this going to help,' or 'is this going to create more chaos in the future,'" said a former Oxycontin addict who would only identify himself as Gerard. A doctor prescribed him the medication at age 18 after an injury he sustained playing baseball.

Jeannie Karlitz, whose son has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, disagrees.

"Worrying about the teen getting addicted to OxyContin, because of the clinical trials with children, it's so silly because one thing has nothing to do with each other," she said. Karlitz's son chronic condition is managed without oxycontin, but she said the study would help parents and doctors make more informed decisions.

Purdue Pharma said it is not trying to market Oxycontin to children, but that the study's results will give information to doctors about the drug's safety and effectiveness in pediatric pain patients. Critics aren't buying that answer.

"My concern is the reason they're interested in this research is that they want to get approval to market the drug for use in children," said Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing.

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