A story people need to know’: behind a shocking TV series about the opioid crisis

The Guardian ^ | Mon 11 Oct 2021 02.32 EDT | David Smith

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They have been described as the most evil family in America – not by hyperbolic headline writers or disgruntled employees, but by members of the United States Congress.

The Sacklers owned and ran Purdue Pharma, the company that sold OxyContin, a high-strength painkiller that arguably fueled the opioid epidemic, responsible for the deaths of more than half a million Americans over two decades.

...

The classy eight-episode series boasts a blue-chip cast including Michael Keaton (also an executive producer), Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, Will Poulter, Kaitlyn Dever and Rosario Dawson. The first two episodes are directed by Oscar winner Barry Levinson; the last two by Strong himself. Inspired by a book by Beth Macy, it premieres on Hulu on 13 October.

Purdue launched OxyContin in 1996, suggesting to doctors that it could be used to treat back aches, knee pain and other common conditions. Richard Sackler, who has served as president and chairman of the company, helped persuade the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve it on the false premise that it was less addictive than other prescription opioids.

The opening episode of Dopesick dramatises Purdue’s hyper-aggressive marketing campaign, which saw hundreds of sales representatives swarm doctors’ offices to push the new wonder drug. A company official tells sales reps the initial rollout will be focused on south-western Virginia, eastern Kentucky and rural Maine and asks them why.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

No one put a gun to anyone’s head and said take these drugs.

The excruciating pain that some of those people were experiencing was probably far more persuasive than a gun to the head. OxyContin is a prescription pain medication and numerous people who became addicts started because they were given prescriptions by their doctors. Rush Limbaugh was one of them.

[ifinnegan]

I’m not sure your stating something obvious and known be everyone is relevant.

The vast majority of people prescribed opiates for pain do not become addicted.

[Brian Griffin]

some of their marketing thoughts:

https://khn.org/news/purdue-and-the-oxycontin-files/

[Brian Griffin]

https://www.judgeforyourselves.info/key-points/opioids/relevant-charts/

“The views and opinions expressed on the website constitute those of the Raymond Sackler family.”

[Cedar]

“For every sob story about addiction there are hundreds like me who need the help, and are having a hard time getting it, or are being denied it altogether.”

This is the really sad part of it all. It’s a shame that many who actually need the help are now denied it. It’s just not right. The world has lost all common sense.

[TChad]

Good lord. What a nightmare.

[Brian Griffin]

“the scientific study from which the commercial’s 1% addiction rate statistic...applies only to patients undergoing hospitalized, regimented care – a very different environment to self-administration.”

https://alcoholstudies.rutgers.edu/the-four-sentence-letter-behind-the-rise-of-oxycontin/

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The vast majority of people prescribed opiates for pain do not become addicted.

The vast majority of people don't become drug addicts for any reason. The fact remains that many of the people who became addicted to OxyContin were prescribed the drug by their doctors. It's a highly addictive synthetic opioid and in its early years it was often prescribed irresponsibly.

[OldGoatCPO]

In the Eighties the Navy removed all four wisdom teeth. One had to come out and the doc decided since I was numbed up and it was going to hurt anyway he may as well remove the other three. They gave me a Tylenol III in the chair and prescription bottle with two more tablets, one for that night and one for the next morning.

Fast forward to 2007, I am getting a root canal. I received a 10 day supply of Percocet? I gave it back, that stuff makes me sick to my stomach. So, they gave me a 10 day supply of Tylenol III. I thought what the hell! I took one that night and returned the rest to the base pharmacy.

I do not like narcotics, saw what they did to a family member. Besides, after surgery on my arm, they drugged me up good. I spent the next few hours streaming 70s music and singing along. I could not carry a tune if it came in a bucket. Daughter and wife laughed there butts off and did a video. Have to admit it was funny, watched and deleted it. Better to return the drugs before I started singing again.

[Brian Griffin]

“Oxycodone was first made in Germany in 1916 from Thebaine.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodone

“When first introduced in Germany during World War I...commonly used for postoperative pain management of Central Powers soldiers.”

[cherry]

we loved Justified....one of the best tv series ever.....

luckily my family has pretty much stayed away from the opioids thankfully....my father ran a strict ship and even though my mom and him smoked, he would never allow us to even play with an empty carton or pack.

[Brian Griffin]

“Calif Med. 1963 Aug;99(2):127-30.
The addiction potential of oxycodone (Percodan)
E R BLOOMQUIST
PMID: 13971810 PMCID: PMC1515192
Free PMC article
Abstract
Dihydrohydroxycodeinone (oxycodone, Percodan(R)) is a useful analgesic. Its addiction potential, however, is comparable to that of morphine. This fact should be considered when it is prescribed. Because of increasing numbers of addicts to this drug in the State of California, the California Medical Association Committee on Dangerous Drugs and the House of Delegates has recommended that oxycodone-containing drugs be returned to the triplicate prescription list as they were originally in 1949.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13971810/

Calif Med. 1965 Sep;103(3):212-3.
PERCODAN ON TRIPLICATE. THE BACKGROUND OF THE NEW LAW

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14341325/

“Created in 1940, the California Triplicate Prescription Program (TRIPS) is the oldest, longest-running multiple copy prescription program in the nation. Aimed at reducing prescription drug abuse, the program regulates and monitors the distribution of Schedule II controlled substances through the use of state-issued triplicate prescription forms....

“TRIPS issues serially-numbered triplicate prescription forms to eligible practitioners upon request. The prescriptions are reviewed and analyzed for compliance with state laws and to detect possible illegal diversion of Schedule II substances to illicit markets.”

http://www.ossh.com/firearms/caag.state.ca.us/bne/content/trips.htm

[zeestephen]

For the last two years, opioid deaths have increased, but most of the addicts are now dying from synthetic opioids - specifically - fentanyl.

Most of the fentanyl in the USA is manufactured in China, shipped to Mexico, then smuggled across our southern border by the cartels.

[Does so]

“Stoners gonna find a way to get stoned.”

And now pushers are making it legal!

[LouAvul]

.. it's obvious that you are a proud ignoramus who doesn't require any actual information to form a fact-free opinion.

For whatever reason, FR has been infested by degenerate libertarians who believe that vending machine narcotics is good and subsequent overdose deaths are acceptable.

[oldvirginian]

“And now pushers are making it legal!”

A No Sh*tter if I ever heard one!
Virginia legalized pot without the pretense of legal dispensaries like other states. The drug dealers are making bank left and right.
I’m thinking of checking out of the Hotel Virginia before they make drug use mandatory.

Modern society reminds me of a sci-fi book I read.
There was a former lunar prison that had been taken over by a bunch of loonies called the Purple Naked Movement.
You called the police to beat you up, the fire department came to burn your house down, the rape hotline was used to report anyone suspected of not being raped recently.
You get the idea.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks for the kind thought, Everyone. It’s been a good dozen years and I am off to a ‘new & vastly improved’ life with a sane, SOBER, awesome man. :)

Just want people to know that there IS life after opioids - but the subject always trips my trigger, you know? I have no answers other than to do what you can for the addicts in your life and when they can’t, won’t or don’t want any help - cut your losses and RUN as fast as you can in the opposite direction. ;)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

https://promarket.org/2020/01/06/purdue-circumvented-the-regulator-to-promote-oxycontin-hiding-its-real-risk-of-addiction/