5 Salient Points

• Uncovering Deceptive Practices: The author began investigating OxyContin’s abuse and its presence in small towns despite Purdue Pharma’s claims of its safety. The author’s source provided crucial information, revealing the existence of thriving “pill mills” where doctors prescribed OxyContin for profit, leading to abuse and overdose cases.

• Concealed Information: Purdue Pharma concealed the reality of OxyContin abuse even when confronted by the author. The company dismissed the concerns raised about its products’ misuse and refused to take responsibility for its role in the opioid crisis.

• Ethical Breaches: Purdue Pharma engaged in unethical promotional strategies, falsely claiming low addiction risks and manipulating data to market OxyContin. The company hired influential figures to promote the drug, raising concerns about the integrity of medical practices.

• Legal Battle: The author’s investigative reporting prompted legal actions against Purdue Pharma and its executives, revealing their involvement in misleading doctors and patients. However, the company’s well-connected legal team managed to negotiate a plea deal, downplaying their accountability.

• Ongoing Consequences: Despite legal actions, the opioid epidemic’s toll continued to rise. The author’s reporting and subsequent book aimed to shed light on the crisis, but the Sackler family, responsible for Purdue Pharma, faced minimal consequences for their actions. The Netflix series based on the author’s work provides further exposure to this issue.

🎯Research Appendix