Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America

Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America

by Beth Macy

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	41400 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	385 pages

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The opioid crisis is one of the deadliest epidemics in American history. Since 1999, more than 500,000 people have died from overdoses involving opioids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The crisis has devastated families and communities across the country, and it has cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars.

At the heart of the opioid crisis is a single company: Purdue Pharma. Purdue is the manufacturer of OxyContin, the prescription painkiller that is widely seen as the gateway drug to heroin and other illicit opioids. Purdue has been accused of engaging in deceptive marketing, paying doctors to prescribe OxyContin for unapproved uses, and downplaying the risks of addiction.

The Sackler family, which owns Purdue Pharma, has become synonymous with the opioid crisis. The Sacklers have been accused of profiting from the addiction and deaths of millions of Americans. They have also been accused of using their wealth and influence to silence critics and block investigations into Purdue's role in the crisis.

The Sacklers have denied any wrongng, but they have agreed to pay billions of dollars in settlements to states and municipalities that have been affected by the opioid crisis. However, these settlements have been criticized for not going far enough. Many believe that the Sacklers should be held criminally responsible for their role in the crisis.

The opioid crisis is a complex problem with many contributing factors. However, there is no doubt that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family played a major role in creating and fueling the crisis. The Sacklers must be held accountable for their actions, and the pharmaceutical industry must be reformed to prevent another crisis like this from happening again.

The Sackler Family: A History of Greed and Deception

The Sackler family has a long history of involvement in the pharmaceutical industry. The family fortune was founded by Mortimer Sackler, a psychiatrist who developed a new drug for treating anxiety in the 1950s. Mortimer's sons, Richard and Mortimer Jr., took over the family business in the 1960s and expanded it into a global pharmaceutical empire.

In the 1990s, Purdue Pharma developed OxyContin, a new prescription painkiller that was marketed as being less addictive than other opioids. OxyContin quickly became a blockbuster drug, and the Sacklers became one of the wealthiest families in America.

However, OxyContin also became a major source of controversy. The drug was often prescribed for pain that was not severe enough to warrant an opioid. It was also often prescribed in high doses, which increased the risk of addiction and overdose.

The Sacklers have been accused of knowing about the risks of OxyContin and of intentionally downplaying them in order to boost sales. They have also been accused of paying doctors to prescribe OxyContin for unapproved uses.

In 2007, Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to misleading the public about the risks of OxyContin. The company paid a $634 million fine, but the Sacklers were not charged with any crimes.

The Sacklers have continued to deny any wrongng. However, the evidence against them is overwhelming. They knew about the risks of OxyContin, and they lied to the public about them. They put profits ahead of people, and they are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans.

Purdue Pharma: A Corrupt Company

Purdue Pharma is a corrupt company that put profits ahead of people. The company's marketing practices were deceptive, and they paid doctors to prescribe OxyContin for unapproved uses. Purdue also downplayed the risks of addiction, which led to millions of Americans becoming addicted to the drug.

In 2007, Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to misleading the public about the risks of OxyContin. The company paid a $634 million fine, but no criminal charges were filed against the Sacklers.

Purdue Pharma has continued to deny any wrongng, but the evidence against the company is overwhelming. Purdue knew about the risks of OxyContin, and they lied to the public about them. They put profits ahead of people, and they are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans.

The Opioid Crisis: A Preventable Tragedy

The opioid crisis is a preventable tragedy. The Sacklers and Purdue Pharma knew about the risks of OxyContin, but they lied to the public about them. They put profits ahead of people, and they are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans.

The opioid crisis is a complex problem, but it is one that we can solve. We need to hold the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma accountable for their crimes. We need to reform the pharmaceutical industry so that it puts patients before profits. And we need to educate the public about the dangers of opioids.

Together, we can end the opioid crisis and prevent another one from happening again.

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Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America

by Beth Macy

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	41400 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	385 pages

FREE