![]() “The communities started transforming overnight. Within about three years, in communities in these ground zero areas – Appalachia, eastern Kentucky, western Virginia, rural Maine – crime rates started exploding. Strong says: “Stories of abuse and addiction started coming in within a year. Purdue was far from the only source but, critics say, was the loudest voice in transforming medical culture so that narcotics were prescribed at significantly higher rates than in other nations. The opioid overdose and addiction epidemic is an American tragedy that devastated long neglected communities, spread across the nation and caused 600,000 deaths with no end in sight. Photograph: SENT IN BY you intercut that with the tragedy of the drug and what it does to people, I thought this could be a really multidimensional piece that not only could be important and tell a story that people need to know, but also do it in a way that’s actually quite compelling and exciting and hopefully a thrilling piece of storytelling.” “I thought, oh, this could actually be an explosive piece of muckraking and somewhat of an exciting thriller as we watch these people uncover the crimes of Purdue Pharma. ![]() When Strong realised that a US attorney had brought a case against the Sacklers, and that a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent was investigating them, he saw the dramatic potential. I just couldn’t believe that this happened.” “They marketed and sold the product in the most dishonest, mischievous, manipulative way for decades and they got away with it. “I could not believe what this criminal company did, what they got away with, that one family, and even a small group of people in the family, managed this company that would create this product that would go on to create so much destruction. Speaking via Zoom from Los Angeles, the 47-year-old recalls: “As I started researching it, I fell down this rabbit hole of disbelief. Strong – whose credits include Empire, Recount and Game Change – was approached to tackle the subject by John Goldwyn. The series also focuses on the efforts of law enforcement to take on a seemingly unstoppable corporate giant. The Sacklers, by contrast, are portrayed as wealthy elitists who discuss the latest avant-garde play on Broadway and hold board meetings surrounded by medieval art. Keaton plays one such doctor in a Virginia mining community. If they’re going through a divorce, get them laid.” “If they’ve got kids, get them tickets to Disney World. He tells the rep they are being sent “into the wild” and should charm the doctors by treating them to expensive meals, filling their cars with petrol and bribing their receptionists with flowers. They have hard lives and we have the cure.” Places were folks get injured doing labour intensive jobs.” One rep suggests: “They’re mining, farming, logging centres. 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. 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. 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. Purdue launched Ox圜ontin in 1996, suggesting to doctors that it could be used to treat back aches, knee pain and other common conditions. Inspired by a book by Beth Macy, it premieres on Hulu on 13 October. The first two episodes are directed by Oscar winner Barry Levinson the last two by Strong himself. 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. ![]() “When people see the rampant criminal behaviour which is so egregious, so shocking, they will understand how this happened and then simultaneously that the institutions of government that are supposed to protect the public from a flagrantly criminal company like this failed. “To show the crimes of this company that was micromanaged by this family. “My goal with this show is to give Purdue and the Sacklers the trial that they never got ,” says Danny Strong, executive producer and writer of Dopesick, the first heavyweight TV drama about the opioid crisis. Soon, however, they could face judgment in the court of public opinion. Last month a judge approved a bankruptcy plan for Purdue that will grant the Sacklers sweeping legal immunity and leave much of their fortune intact. Yet the family has repeatedly dodged full legal or financial accountability.
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