For more than 40 years, I practiced medicine, starting in Peterborough before specializing. I am supporting CindeWarmington for governor because she is smart, follows the details, and does her homework.

I have seen the wildly misleading attack ad from Joyce Craig about Warmington and the opioid industry. In 1995, when the FDA approved Purdue Pharma’s new medication, OxyContin, it was a huge breakthrough in pain treatment -- a “safe” long-acting drug. Purdue launched an educational campaign labeling pain as the fifth vital sign requiring treatment. Purdue studies showed that their new controlled-release formulation posed minimal risk for addiction.

When Warmington’s firm was hired in 2002 by Purdue, she testified that doctors should decide what medication a patient needed, not the insurer, and that OxyContin should be added as a medication in the NH Medicaid formulary that then required a patient’s pain not be controlled by three first-line medications, including methadone and fentanyl. In 2003, a year later, the FDA issued an official warning letter to Purdue for misleading advertisements regarding addiction. To attack her now for what was unknown in 2002 is wrong.

Throughout my career, I have seen Warmington as a champion for those with addiction. In her private capacity, she volunteered on the NH Professionals Health Program Board where I worked. In her professional capacity, she fought to bring medication-assisted treatment to New Hampshire. On the Executive Council, she has advocated for greater addiction funding.

Warmington’s health care law practice had hundreds of New Hampshire clients, with many donating to her subsequent political campaigns because they appreciated her common sense. If you want a governor who is already working to help solve the problems in our state, you should join me in voting for CindeWarmington. 

Sally Garhart Eneguess

Peterborough