Alabama Man Alleges Oxycontin Manufacturer Trivialized Drug's Addictive Qualities

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-An Alabama man who allegedly suffered from addiction and withdrawal symptoms following his use of Oxycontin has filed a products liability claim against the manufacturer stating that it trivialized the drug's addictive nature. Bodie v. Purdue Pharma, et al., No. CV-02-C-2838 (N.D. Ala.).

In an effort to increase sales, Purdue Pharma, the drug's manufacturer, and Abbott Laboratories, a company that helps market the drug, misrepresented the safety and efficacy of the drug, the complaint alleges. The drug companies' sales representatives also utilized marketing tactics that violated the ethical guidelines established by the American Medical Association, plaintiff Jerry Bodie's Nov. …