Apologies in advance for the length here but I thought this was pretty important.  I think everyone is concerned about how the media portrays prescription drug abuse and how that affects access.  Well, take a look at this article and tell me we don't  have a new concern -- newspapers either making stuff up or just not telling us the whole story.  Most here will remember the series from the Sentinel last fall but this link should open up the articles if you are interested: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/extras/dynamic/news/oxycontin.  Seriously, pass this on to other lists if you think it worthwhile.  Gary

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-asecoxy05020504feb05,1,3568919.story


Sentinel corrects record on OxyContin article
The paper knew five weeks earlier than stated about a subject's drug conviction.
By Dan Tracy
Sentinel Staff Writer
February 5, 2004

The Orlando Sentinel knew five weeks earlier than previously stated that an ex-police officer, featured as an "accidental addict" in the newspaper's series about the painkiller OxyContin, had a drug-related conviction.

In a Sunday story, the Sentinel said the paper was unaware of David Rokisky's legal troubles until informed of them in a letter received Dec. 15 from Purdue Pharma, makers of the narcotic.

"Mr. Rokisky is not the model citizen who appears on the pages of the Sentinel," the letter said, "and the true nature of his character invalidates the conclusions drawn from the fictional persona."

Managing Editor Elaine Kramer, who was quoted in Sunday's article, discovered late Tuesday that information about Rokisky's 1999 conviction on drug conspiracy in New Mexico had been known by one or more people in the newsroom since Nov. 7.

Kramer immediately told Publisher Kathy Waltz, who ordered an investigation into the paper's handling of the five-part series and information obtained after it was published Oct. 19-23.

The paper erred in not uncovering Rokisky's criminal background before the stories were published, Kramer said Wednesday, then compounded the mistake by not verifying and disclosing the information sooner.

Launching the investigation into what caused the communication breakdown in the newsroom, Waltz said, she intends to set guidelines ensuring nothing similar happens again.

Purdue spokesman Jim Heins said: "We are gratified that the Sentinel is beginning to examine the facts and correct the record concerning the serious inaccuracies published in its five-part series about OxyContin. The inaccurate and misleading description of David Rokisky as a typical pain patient confused two important public health issues, the proper use of this medication and its illegal abuse.

"Rokisky's extensive criminal past suggests he is anything but a typical pain patient and calls into question the truth of every statement attributed to him by the Sentinel."

If the newspaper had known about Rokisky's drug-conspiracy conviction before the stories were printed in October, Kramer said, "we would not have profiled him in the way we did."

Rokisky, 36, worked for the Albuquerque police department from 1989 to 1997. He pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge in December 1999 and in April 2000 was sentenced to six months' house arrest and three years' probation, which included regular drug testing in a substance-abuse program.

The case against Rokisky stemmed from his role in introducing an undercover police officer to a drug dealer to buy cocaine. Rokisky adamantly denies ever abusing drugs.

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