A doctor was convicted Friday of writing hundreds of unnecessary prescriptions for the widely abused painkiller OxyContin and other drugs. Dr. Franklin Sutherland faces hundreds of years in prison for his conviction on 427 counts of illegally prescribing prescription drugs. Sentencing is set for Sept. 10. They also suggested Sutherland wrote many prescriptions because he was compensated each time by an insurance plan or Medicaid. OxyContin is a synthetic morphine used to treat severe cancer pain has become the illicit drug of choice in some parts of the country.
Users grind it up and either snort or inject it, seeking a high similar to that produced by heroin.
OxyContin has been blamed for 43 fatal overdoses since 1998. Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press.