The Dark Legacy Unveiled: Unmasking the Sackler Family and Purdue's Notorious Role in Painkiller Epidemic

Summary

The Sackler family valued money and notoriety over the well-being of patients, hiding the addictive side effects of OxyContin.

The Sackler brothers - Arthur, Raymond, and Mortimer - were instrumental in transforming Purdue Pharma into a dominant force in the painkiller industry.

Under Richard Sackler's leadership, Purdue Pharma faced significant controversy as he vigorously advocated for the endorsement and vigorous promotion of OxyContin as a reliable and harmless pain reliever.

At the heart of Painkiller, a true story serves as the basis, lies the Sackler family and their contribution to the opioid crisis through the development of their drug, OxyContin. In the Netflix limited series, Matthew Broderick takes on the role of Richard Sackler, the chairman and president of Purdue Pharma, who actively advocated for the widespread use of OxyContin as a standard painkiller in the United States. Alongside him, the drama television show also portrays other prominent members of the Sackler family - Arthur Sackler played by Clark Gregg, Raymond Sackler played by Sam Anderson, and Mortimer Sackler played by John Rothman.

Painkiller exposes the Sackler family's priority for wealth and notoriety, placing it above all else. Although fully aware of the addictive nature of OxyContin, they took significant measures to conceal this detail. Alas, Purdue Pharma's secrets were eventually uncovered by investigators, exposing the truth behind OxyContin and its destructive impact on numerous families nationwide. Consequently, CNN labeled the Sackler family as "the most notorious drug dealers in history."

The Sackler Family's Real Role In The Opioid Crisis & Legacy Explained

According to Insider, Purdue Pharma, under the leadership of the Sackler brothers, Arthur, Raymond, and Mortimer, played a major role in the rise of the painkiller empire in the late 20th century. In the 1990s, the brothers focused on pain management drugs, leading to the creation of OxyContin. Despite concerns about its addictive properties, Purdue Pharma managed to persuade Curtis Wright of the FDA to approve the drug. Consequently, OxyContin was introduced to the market without anyone being aware of its hazardous side effects. The FDA application downplayed the addiction risks, stating that the delayed absorption of OxyContin tablets was believed to diminish the drug's potential for abuse. Purdue Pharma aggressively propagated the narrative that the opioid was not addictive, despite it being far from the truth. As a result of their actions, OxyContin wreaked havoc on countless lives and played a significant role in the onset of the opioid crisis in the late 1990s.

Arthur Sackler Founded Purdue & Pioneered Controversial Pharmaceutical Marketing Practice

Arthur Sackler, portrayed by Clark Gregg in Painkiller on Netflix, played a significant role in Purdue Pharma's deceptive marketing practices. Unlike his brothers, Arthur specialized in pharmaceutical marketing and was instrumental in the company's success through his strategic sales approach. Transitioning from psychiatry to marketing, Arthur joined the medical advertising agency William Douglas McAdams Inc. and played a pivotal role in establishing the precedent for Purdue Pharma's direct marketing to physicians. Although Arthur passed away from a heart attack in 1987, approximately nine years before the launch of OxyContin, his influence and pursuit of notoriety paved the way for the events portrayed in Painkiller.

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Richard Sackler Took Over Purdue After Arthur's Death & Was Key To Controversially Pushing OxyContin

In Painkiller, audiences witnessed Matthew Broderick's portrayal of Richard Sackler, who played a pivotal role in the development and marketing mismanagement of OxyContin, which reflects reality. According to Radio Times, Richard started at Purdue Pharma in 1971 as his father's (Raymond) assistant and gradually ascended the ranks to become the company's president in 1999. Following Arthur's passing, Richard assumed responsibilities as the head of research and development as well as the head of marketing. He exerted significant influence in promoting OxyContin as a safe painkiller, ultimately leading to the FDA's approval.

Following the revelation of OxyContin's highly addictive nature, the company endured multiple lawsuits, leading to the Sackler family seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019. While Richard, the former president of Purdue Pharma, escaped criminal charges for his involvement in the deaths related to OxyContin, he resigned from his position in 2003. Despite Painkiller's portrayal of the entire Sackler family in a negative manner, Richard undeniably assumes the role of the story's antagonist.

Sources: CNN, Insider, and Radio Times.