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The Family That Built an Empire of Pain - purdue pharmaceutical and the sackler family.
If you want to get to the bottom of the opioid crisis read this article. It will make you furious...and yes, we as taxpayers are footing the bill. Or will foot the bill when something is actually done.
The sackler family PUSHED the drug on doctors for decades by lying and saying the drug was non-addictive and safe and providing false studies that said the drug was safe. They made BILLIONS and have affected MILLIONS.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/30/the-family-that-built-an-empire-of-pain
Although the Sackler name can be found on dozens of buildings, Purdue’s Web site scarcely mentions the family, and a list of the company’s board of directors fails to include eight family members, from three generations, who serve in that capacity. “I don’t know how many rooms in different parts of the world I’ve given talks in that were named after the Sacklers,” Allen Frances, the former chair of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine, told me. “Their name has been pushed forward as the epitome of good works and of the fruits of the capitalist system. But, when it comes down to it, they’ve earned this fortune at the expense of millions of people who are addicted. It’s shocking how they have gotten away with it.”
The sackler family PUSHED the drug on doctors for decades by lying and saying the drug was non-addictive and safe and providing false studies that said the drug was safe. They made BILLIONS and have affected MILLIONS.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/30/the-family-that-built-an-empire-of-pain
Although the Sackler name can be found on dozens of buildings, Purdue’s Web site scarcely mentions the family, and a list of the company’s board of directors fails to include eight family members, from three generations, who serve in that capacity. “I don’t know how many rooms in different parts of the world I’ve given talks in that were named after the Sacklers,” Allen Frances, the former chair of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine, told me. “Their name has been pushed forward as the epitome of good works and of the fruits of the capitalist system. But, when it comes down to it, they’ve earned this fortune at the expense of millions of people who are addicted. It’s shocking how they have gotten away with it.”
Replies
That's staggering.
https://baartprograms.com/opiate-addiction-statistics-legal-street/
Very sad indeed. I'm not sure how much to blame the manufacturer of the pain pills, as lots of other people do not get addicted...( but, perhaps much much more education and other drugs to get off the addicted pills??)
also, perhaps if we had medical marijuana, many of the people could use that instead of addicting drugs??
*i just worked in the Purdue plant which manufactures the oxy pills. Lots of security there!!
As usual, the lawyers will be the only ones that win.
it'll be interesting to see if the FDA really does limit the amount of nicotine in cigarettes. I'm betting the lobbyists will prevail and it might be reduced a little but not a significant amount.
every great fortune is built on a great crime
They'll be paying much more before it's over.
"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."
We're a nation of addictions when you think about it.
"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole of the law. The rest is commentary."
Rabbi Hillel (c20 BCE)
As a former narcotics and doctor shopping detective I can say that the majority of the addicts I've dealt with do not start with legit prescribed Dr. scripts. That being said, yes opioids are a drug that should be avoided at all costs.
When did you stop doing that work?
If it's been a while, what you said makes a great deal of sense. If it's been in the last 10 years or so, it calls into question what that article says.
I'm curious as to your perspective.
Thanks..>Mike
Every MD I have ever worked with knows that Narcotic medications are addictive. When their patients started showing up early for refills with every excuse in the book (and some out of it) about how they lost, spilled, had stolen, confiscated etc. they should have known. Most know but don't mind billing a visit for a refill. The MDs were not fooled, misled some yes, but complicit. Its not like the issues popped up last week.
The opium crisis is centuries old. Wars were fought over the opium trade. Pills are new, but opium on the streets is nothing new, nor is the misuse of opium products in the medical industry. Morphine is an opium derivative and doctors heavily misused it in the 1800s during and after the Civil War, and of course heroin is a more potent form of morphine.
The reason Britain had such an extensive empire in SE Asia was due to their role in the opium trade and wars they fought with the Chinese to force the Chinese to let the Brits trade and sell opium (to Asians). Entire economies have been built on opium both then and now.
It is a terrible thing. But its not new.
I would also note that in Central Florida around Ocala, opiate-derived pills were the dominant form of illegal drug use, not counting pot, as early as a decade ago. I once had a shelf of 300 open felony cases, and 2/3rds or more of them were either directly related to charges of possession of opiates with an Rx, or property crimes related to people stealing and reselling items to get money for a pill fix. So this newest version of the opium plague didn't just pop up. Its been around for about a decade in at its current levels. The media just didn't focus on it.
Its also a regional thing. In north Florida, the dominate illegal drug is meth. Most of my felony drug cases are meth related. Very few people get busted for pills. It could be they mostly have Rxs now.
The street price for pills haven't changed much. About $20 a pill. Sometimes more. Depends on the pill. Addicts can burn thru 10 a day. Way more than they can usually get in a Rx. Fuels a lot of thievery.
You tout personal responsibility....where does the responsibility of the drug maker come in....are they responsibly lying about the their product????
If you count crimes as going against liberal values then yes.
From 2008 to 2014
Wait a few years. You'll be hearing the same story about Marijuana. Harmless, natural plant-based, non-addictive....
Doc, you're a dic