Have you watched Painkiller, the limited Netflix series about the OxyContin epidemic that kills thousands of Americans each year—more than car crashes? It is an eye-opening piece–even if you already know the story of the Sackler family and the devastation the family released on America. That devastation continues, which is only one reason this series is important.
From listening to people running for president in 2024, you would not know that more than 100 people a day die of opioid overdoses, or that 81,000 people died of opioid overdoses in 2021, more dead Americans than died in the Vietnam war. Have you seen action plans put forward by any of the dozen or so Republican presidential candidates to address the problem? I have not. Not unless you count Donald Trump’s and Ron DeSantis’ proposals to execute drug dealers.
Painkiller tells the story of the Sackler family’s and Purdue Pharma’s greed, as well as how otherwise good people got involved in distributing drugs (in the case of Purdue, aggressive marketing to persuade doctors to prescribe OxyContin).
The series is worth watching, but it does not address the biggest question—what does the government have to do to stop the epidemic? The Sacklers are no longer in the drug business, but the opioid epidemic continues.
Painkiller offers a simplistic rationale for Purdue’s crimes: greed. Sackler family money allowed it to buy regulatory approvals (by effectively bribing a Food and Drug Administration official) and neuter law enforcement with money (a Maine prosecutor who once publicly attacked Purdue was hired as a consultant to the company) and hiring famous lawyers to game the legal system. (Purdue hired Mary Jo White, a former U.S. Attorney in New York, and Rudy Guiliani to represent it.)
After more than a decade in court, the Sacklers were stopped from peddling these drugs. Yet, the Purdue story is still not over. Despite the company settling the criminal charges brought against it, the Sackler family assets remain in the billions. A court recently rejected a settlement with a Bankruptcy Court that would have ended future financial risk for the family. Thus, trials relating to Purdue will continue indefinitely.
Much more important is the reality of at least 100 people a day dying of opioid overdoses, especially those involving Fentanyl, a synthetic 50 times more potent than heroin. Why isn’t more being done?
Experts admit there is no easy solution. Are those who overdose victims or criminals? Should doctors be second-guessed by lawyers on how they prescribe painkillers? Are families to blame? Would “drug education” programs in schools dissuade people from trying illegal drugs—or legal ones they might not need? Would stronger border enforcement stop the flow of opioids into America?
I do not know the answers to these questions. I also do not know why major presidential candidates, including Joe Biden, are not talking more about the issue, or putting forth bold plans to address it. (In February, President Biden called for “a major surge to stop fentanyl production, sale, and trafficking, with more drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border.” Is that enough?)
The drug problem is not getting better. As a nation, are we ready to accept 100 people a day dying of opioid overdoses? I am not.
Here are questions I would like to see the 2024 candidates answer.
On a scale of one to ten (just like the pain charts doctors use), how serious is the drug problem in the U.S.?
What are the causes of the drug problem?
What actions would you take in your first 100 days in the White House (hopefully in the first 100 hours) to begin addressing the problem?
What commitment of new federal resources to address the addiction problem do you support?
How do you propose to reduce access to illegal opioids, as well as to legal opioids by people who do not need them?
Do you think the FDA is doing its job in protecting the public from opioids?
Do you believe executing drug dealers would solve the opioid epidemic? If so, explain.
Are new laws needed to punish doctors who inappropriately prescribe opioids to people at risk of addiction or to people who do not need the drugs to address intolerable pain? How would such an initiative work?
What innovative ideas do you have to address the drug epidemic?
Do you agree that, if you are elected, voters should hold you accountable for your record on the drug epidemic issue?
If anyone running for president happens to read this piece (I like to think that several candidates are Spy readers), please send me your answers. The Spy, I am sure, would like to publish them.
And, Dr. Harris, where are you on this issue? As a doctor and the First District representative in Congress, what should be done to hold doctors who facilitate access to unneeded addictive opioids accountable? Your website tells us, “Physicians, not government bureaucrats, should provide guidance on medical decisions that affect you and your family.” What would you do to stop doctors from inappropriately prescribing opioids?
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
YOU ARE SEVERELY MISINFORMED!!I suffer from an incomplete spinal cord injury and have 3 spinal fusions. I have severe pain and I’m in a wheelchair part time. I go to pain management and my doctor is so afraid of the DEA he will not prescribe the medication that I need to be able to have any quality of life. I cannot work because of this. Even if I could get the prescription its doubtful that I could actually get the prescription filled because there is a shortage of the medication. ALL PAIN MEDS ARE IN A SHORTAGE! Before my accident happened I was a paramedic, so I know all about the effects of the opioid epidemic. Doctors have gotten the message about overpresribing to the point where they are under prescribing. Every month I have to beg my doctor for the little amount of pain meds that he’s willing to prescribed. People like me are SUFFERING because the doctors are so afraid of being investigated by the DEA and being brought up on charges that make no sense. Did you know that 60% of people with chronic pain commit suicide? Do you know that even if I die of a heart attack I would be considered an opioid related death just because I take pain meds? Everyone has completely forgotten about people like me who depend on opioid medication to have some quality of life. I do believe that 10-15 years ago some doctors were overprescribing, but NOT ANYMORE!! It was almost impossible for me to find a doctor who would even work with me on my chronic pain. Also, my mental health has suffered because of this whole situation. I have to deal with depression and anxiety because of this whole situation. When it comes time for my monthly appointment with pain management I am terrified that I’m going to be cut off that he’s not going to prescribe meds anymore. Another part of the problem is the fact that doctors get paid big bucks for pain relief injections bur do not get paid to write prescriptions. It is recommended that you only have 3 injections a year. I had a doctor who wouldn’t write my prescriptions unless I had an injection first. I know from experience that rarely those injections work. And, they are super painful and have an array of side effects. They don’t tell you that, but they do. Maybe after reading this you’ll do an article on the people like me who are in a life and death situation because of this crisis. If I wasn’t able to get my medication I would be bed ridden 90% of the time. WHO would want to live like that? Suicide would be my only option and my life would be over. End of story
HERE’S THE THING LAWMAKERS DON’T SAY! I’ve been in law enforcement for over 25 years. When people was getting prescription pills there was almost 95% less overdoses. Even our old Governor in Ohio stated had he known people would turn to heroin/fentanyl he would’ve rethought things, at least we knew the pills were clean.
I believe from experience our government rushed into shutting prescription pill mills down, which I’m all for, BUT, they didn’t have a contingency plan. Did they think they would just stop something addictive. The biggest problem I have is my father in law is 72 has had 3 back surgeries and has to jump through so many hoops to get his legit medicine. He’s doing everything by the book and feels like he’s being punished. Diagnostic testing don’t lie there has to be some leeway for legitimate patients.
As a mother of child left behind due to accidental opioid over dose, those questions stand behind every person who has even lost someone they love over this epidemic issue. There has got to be a way we can all help our country from losing any more lives .
You are totally right in what you wrote. He is Not a Well informed “Doctor”, and his “comments” should be fact checked before published.