http://exhibits.library.stonybrook.edu/mfp/files/original/ba7a1076f6dc083b489dc84125517cdb.pdf c7afbde9622ce9db5685ae8b50238069 PDF Text Text STATE UNIVERSITY or NEW YORK AT STONY BROOK HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER School of Medicine '1 Stony Brook, N. Y. 11790 Phone: 516-444-2413 Department of Psychiatry 13 March 1974 Mr. Stewart Alsop Newsweek 444 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022 Dear Mr. Alsop: conclusions regarding the use of opiates in dying pa— tients, quoted in the New York Times of March 5, strikes a res— ponsive chord. I am a national consultant in opiate research with experience in studies of heroin, and I am frequently called upon to answer disturbing questions. The Physicians ask whether heroin may be used, its safety, and their risks are with regard to the Federal Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. I have to answer that they may not use heroin; that even for research obtain permission and supplies; and that their it is difficult toBNDD IRS and fears of are probably groundless. But I am not sure about the latter statements, recognizing that in their asking, the physicians are reflecting a fear that may be founded on what history. Because experience with opiates is limited, they tend to use dosages that are too small for fear of developing 'dependenee,‘ thereby under—treating their patients. This attitude reflects on our education and on the proscriptions quoted in our journals. I have used heroin to treat relentless pain and have found it is quicker in action, more effective in response, and has fewer side—effects than morphine. As you have suggested, the mood—altering qualities are particularly gratifying. that Your reference to morphine and heroin brings to mind the reports that other opioids, particularly etorphine (M-99) have been tested and are even more effective than heroin; that they are probably 1000 times more active on a dose basis~—but studies -1- �Mr. S. Alsop 13 —2— March 1974 w‘ . aha-vat. are proscribed by authorities in the U.S. and Europe for fear that the Afor man. it 'instantly addicting' and too dangerous Its use is limited to animals, where (as Immobilon) compound may be is used to capture non—feline mammals. (For a description of its use in patients, see the reports by Blane in Agonist and Antagonist Actions of Narcotic Analgesic Drugs, Ed. by H. Koster— litz. London: Macmillan, 1972.) Not only should heroin and etorphine be made available for found useful, allowed to be prescribed by physicians for patients with intractable pain; but we should be willing to make these substances available to patients with instructions as to the consequences of‘overdose, so that they haVe an opportunity to self-regulate their dosages as needed. clinical analgesic studies and, if Your efforts at liberating these analgesics for medical uses are to be encouraged. Sincerely yours, Max Fink, M.D. Professor of Psychiatry MF/cis � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Correspondence Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Correspondence to: Hunt, Robert Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context mfp-05-00-027-6-511 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1974 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource <a title="Fink, Max, 1923-" href="http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79039548" target="_blank">Fink, Max, 1923-</a> Subject The topic of the resource Correspondence -- Correspondence Relation A related resource The Max Fink Collection Description An account of the resource Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a title="IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED" href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/" target="_blank">IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED</a> Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries. Stony Brook University Libraries (State University of New York). Language A language of the resource en-US Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Correspondence