
The Daily The Family That Profited From the Opioid Crisis
Mar 15, 2019
Barry Meier, author of "Pain Killer," is a seasoned New York Times journalist who dives into the dark world of the opioid crisis, focusing on the Sackler family's financial gains from OxyContin. He discusses the shocking indifference exhibited by the Sacklers to the addiction epidemic. Meier reveals how recent documents show their hands-on role in prioritizing profits over public health. He also highlights the essential role of journalism in unveiling corporate deceit, drawing parallels with the tobacco industry's historical denial of harm.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Guggenheim Protest
- Protesters scattered prescription-like papers for OxyContin in the Guggenheim Museum.
- They chanted "Shame on Sackler," targeting the family who owns Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin.
Sackler Family's Role
- The Sackler family, known for philanthropy, has amassed wealth through OxyContin sales.
- This has led to protests demanding accountability for their role in the opioid crisis.
Lawsuits Target Sacklers
- Lawsuits against Purdue Pharma have existed for nearly two decades.
- Recent lawsuits now target the Sackler family directly due to emerging documents revealing their involvement.


