(Dextro) Propoxyphene - Darvon & Darvocet) - are important parts of the heroin-epidemic of today. They were on the US market for 53 years

The purpose of this letter is to inform you about the analgesic substance (Dexto) Propoxyphene (DXP) - trademarks in US Darvon and Darvocet - which we have studied since 1994, we have written two doctoral theses, (see our CV http://bit.ly/2tsVOPL ).

We would like to add DXP -  which was synthesized in US 1953 and entered the American market in 1957 - to the discussion of the heroin-epidemic today. DXP became immediately very popular.

Soon after 1957 research showed that DXP was very dangerous, and many persons were poisoned to death, many also became addicted to the drug, which also created very big problems. After many years of work and influence from, among other, us, the product was banned in Nov 2010. It became later banned all over the world.

We also believe that in today's state it is important to gain knowledge about DXP to influence and help solving the current problems with the heroin epidemic. To be able to read today's problems, we must know the story of yesterday, where life-threatening drugs were allowed to be on the market for 53 years.

We have carefully followed the debate in the United States about this alarming development that surrounds the current heroin epidemic. Future developments seem unimaginable. An article in (STATnews.com) forecast that “Opioids could kill nearly 500 000 Americans in the next decade” http://bit.ly/2sn7p3E

Some of the opiate-based drugs mentioned in the debate are Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Fentanyl. These preparations entered the US market in the mid 1990s, and there are data about the consumption of the drugs every year from 1996 to 1999. Figures come from INCB (The International Narcotic Control Board) http://bit.ly/2t1o2AC (Years 1996-2015)

In our research - with data from FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) http://bit.ly/2hNl3U0 and Los Angeles County http://1.usa.gov/1HmpQV8 (Annual reports) - we have found that about 6,000 people were poisoned to death due to Propoxyphene each year. 

During more than 50 years of DXP available - as many as about 300,000 lethal poisons could have taken place. If desired, we can send out some of our tables based on forensic data from FDLE and LA County.

As known, DXP ​​was banned in Sweden, England, the EU before the FDA decided to stop the drug. Today, DXP ​​is basically stopped throughout the world.

Our research on DXP has been ongoing since 1994 and we believe that the consequences of extensive and long-term use of Darvon & Darvocet, including the United States - have farreaching consequences. Many of the users of DXP were poisoned to death.

We believe that earlier years of consumption of DXP in US ( 1957-2010) can still affect people, many also developed a dependence on the substance in question.

Obviously, drug organizations in the world have the same view as we have and DXP is now completely forbidden in the world. And then the step is not far for many people to seek heroin - as it has become more difficult to get the drugs prescribed

As far as we have said, it has not been found that any Oxycodone, Hydrocodone or Fentalnyl or other opiate shells are prohibited – but DXP have been banned since 2010.