Massachusetts Attorney General Targets Oxycontin Maker Purdue, Says They Engineered Opioid Crisis

The Massachusetts attorney general is targeting Purdue Pharma and eight members of the Sackler family who own the company, alleging in a lawsuit they are "personally responsible" for deceptively selling OxyContin.

The attorney general, Maura Healey, sat down with CBS This Morning. She alleges the Sackler family hired "hundreds of workers to carry out their wishes" – pushing doctors to get "more patients on opioids, at higher doses, for longer, than ever before" all while paying "themselves billions of dollars."

In her lawsuit, Healey names eight members of the family that own Purdue Pharma, alleging they "micromanaged" a "deceptive sales campaign." In the conclusion to the complaint, Healey said the Sackler family used the power at their disposal to engineer an opioid crisis. Almost 400,000 people died from opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2017, according to the CDC.

Full Story: CBS This Morning

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I think people that are on opiods are going through the worst of it, as it does help, but it gets taken away. And we as pain patients have to suffer the pain along with the severe withdraw symptoms. Doctors don't go through that, they made their money. So where is the justice?

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Greed is the motive here. So awful when a drug company understands the consequences in prescribing this just for profit. I sometimes wonder the phrase “What profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?” This has happened to me, a certain pain clinic tried to put me on these I said no I did not want to be on them 24/7 I want to be able to control my pain something less powerful but as needed. They simply said “You do not tell us how to help you, we tell you.” And I live in Mass. I remain silent as not to ruin it for other patients who may need this more than me 24/7. But Perdue are nothing but money hungry profit above people makers. Bout time they be held accountable. None get away with things like this....

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If you read the filings it’s pretty interesting. Especially because the pain clinic I go to still goes by some of the lies the sales folks used to tell. Like appropriate patients won’t get addicted. And the one about how people are less likely to get addicted to extended release meds because there isn’t an “up and down” when there is a constant supply in your system. That is not true & this is part of why they are in trouble for fraud. Yet long time pain clinics still use this. Last time I went in I had to circle things on a paper and add up the points to see how likely it is that I will abuse my meds. Some aren’t even about me-like do I have a family member who abuses drugs. Hell if I would even admit to that if I did, if it means I will be subjected to more scrutiny. Or if I was molested as a kid. 40 years ago doesn’t affect my choices today, so really? The worst part was that men get more points for each thing, just because they’re men.

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He will have a hard time prosecuting his case. These companies have power and money to spare.

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From the article linked to ... wow, what would they define as "abusers":

In one alleged instance, then-president Richard Sackler devised what Healey describes as Sackler's "solution to the overwhelming evidence of overdose and death," writing in a confidential email, "we have to hammer on the abusers in every way possible. They are the culprits and the problem."

I'd like to know if the CDC might consider any of these messages which have surfaced and update their "guidelines" to give patients a little more slack!

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I want more proof that Purdue is guilty of this, and exactly how did they manipulate this kind of scheme?? I want a lot more answers!!! And the numbers everyone keeps throwing around of deaths due to opioids is constantly changing!! We, the people are paying attention to what your writing and claiming!!! One more thing, I know for a fact that the majority of opioids that are killing people are illegal drugs, such as heroin!!! So please be more accurate!!

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Re: Beth (# 6)

Good feedback, thank you Beth. Please note that we simply republished part of a story from CBS news because it tends to be a topic of interest on our site. That being said, it appears that there was a ruling on Monday which orders the full release of redacted materials involved in the lawsuit. According to the ruling, the complaint must be made public by noon today. It will be interesting to see what the full contents of the lawsuit reveal.

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Re: Beth (# 6)

Every day more than 130 people overdose and die on prescription painkillers. The CDC estimates that the total of prescription opioid misuse alone in the USA is $78.5 Billion a year including addiction treatment, and criminal involvement. In the late 1990’s the pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not be addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers, and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. This led to misuse and became clear that these meds could be highly addictive. In 2017, more than 47,000 Americans died from prescription meds as well as heroin, and Fentanyl. That same year, an estimated 1.7 million people in the USA suffered from substance abuse related just to prescription pain meds and 625,000 from heroin. 29% misuse prescription meds. 12% develop an opioid use disorder. 4-6% go from pain meds TO heroin. 80% actually go from pain pills to heroin. Including my 23 year old nephew from pills.

As far as the greedy Sackler family goes THEY KNEW their Oxycontin was causing overdoses, yet continued to cash in as deaths mounted. Not only the Sackler family but 9 board members as well. Purdue argues to withhold info about the Sacklers, one of the richest families in the USA. Getting rich off the deaths of deceased people. Mr. Sackler is obsessed with profits as Ms Healy has stated. Matter of fact in Sacklers own words, he wrote that he had hoped for “better results” after one weeks prescribing these pills. Sales reps were told they would be fired because they were not increasing their pill prescriptions. Mr. Sackler then went on to say “The launch of Oxycontin tablets will be followed by a blizzard of prescriptions that will bury the competition. The prescription blizzard will be so deep, dense, and white.” Over the next 20 years, his dream had come true. They created a man-made disaster. Their prescriptions had buried children, parents, and grandparents across Mass and it continues. The company’s then-president, lawyer, AND chief medical officer, plead guilty to a felony, and Purdue paid a $600 million dollar fine for misleading the public. Personally, I think they are greedy, scum sucking, selfish, non-compassionate a**holes who deserve life in prison. And you need proof???

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Re: Bella (# 8)

Part of the problem with opioids being prescribed is because the insurance would rather approve pain meds than actually fixing the problem with surgery or other avenues. For me, my problem could be fixed with a spinal disc implant. Since 1997, I was given meds instead. It’s far cheaper than an operation & hospital time. So same on the insurance companies who also contributed to this so called “crisis”. For the most part, it’s not the patient who is getting addicted. It’s the people wanting to get high out in the streets. If you are a pain patient & you are selling your meds SHAME ON YOU! Your doctor needs to kick you out of their office. But you need to leave the people alone who get relief from their meds & take it as prescribed.

I don’t take Oxycontin but if I did, I would use them for relief. Not for a few bucks in my pocket. I think that most people who have chronic pain or had surgery that their pain is controlled by these meds, you need to leave it to their doctor. Just because there are dumb selfish people who would rather buy or sell their meds, don’t lump everyone in the same category.

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Re: Mare (# 9)

Did you not read my post in the statistics of misuse? Not selling it but taking more than you should, due to a tolerance build up. And it’s opposite where I live they would rather do surgery than to give out meds. Although “shots” are the new thing in which physicians pocket $2400 for each cortisone etc... shots they give you. What a racket and they don’t even work. I have been down every avenue, even as a Catholic going to healing Masses which I may add worked at one time. It’s learning to live with the pain, and getting to the bottom of it instead of a medication band aid. I feel for others in agonizing pain as pain meds actually cause more pain. Hence the big business. Purdue needs to be locked away and the rest of them for the sake of the people who died from their greed. May God help us all.

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Here's some more recent news on Purdue:

(Reuters) - OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP is exploring filing for bankruptcy to address potentially significant liabilities from roughly 2,000 lawsuits alleging the drugmaker contributed to the deadly opioid crisis sweeping the United States, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Ref: Exclusive: OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma exploring bankruptcy

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Re: Bella (# 10)

It is true about the numbers & they need to go back to the manufacturers. Also, doctors have a responsibility to “do no harm”. Pharmacies need to be included as well. I have had meds that worked great only to get a different manufacturer when calling in my refill. Why do pharmacies change a manufacturer? I just had an instance where I’ve been taking the same brand of triazolam for many years. I go to the same pharmacy. Now they changed brands which by the way are inferior to the other medication I’ve been taking for years. It all comes down to the manufacturer. They give pharmacies big incentives to change brands & aren’t as effective as the ones taken previously. I noticed it right away. Then if you try to find a pharmacy that gives you the brand you have always used, you looked at as a pharmacy shopper. I do not know the chemical breakdown between the two. I can only go by how it effects me. Are they using different ingredients. Don’t know. Never had an issue with them except that this other brand is less effective. It all comes down to money. Also, when I go to my pain doctor, there are countless pharmaceutical reps that come in with samples all the time. Maybe that’s where the gov should be focusing their attention on.

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Re: Beth (# 6)

I'm with you on this topic. Needing more proof..I mean how can they acculy talk doctors into prescribing medications

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Re: Bella (# 8)

Well wow. I just made a statement to someone agreeing for more proof and info on the sackler family..and you just said it so well. Seriously I understand it now. Great reading material thank you so much for clarifying this and taking your time to write this

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Of those statistics, how many were under the care and prescriptions of a Dr.? Most are being purchased on the street like fentanyl is now. The years of our boys in combat coming home addicted and then the mighty Methadone if whom the formulator cried as he knew of it as the horror it is. But still prescribe! Suboxone, my experience was that I had to take six 8mg tablets and went through a horrific withdrawal only to be reinjured and back on being owned by prescription drugs. My insurance company approved three 40 mg oxys daily he prescribed two!!! I was getting the exact same pill as the original overpriced ones however paying a generic price. My pharmacist feels that she may not be able to get them again. I'm broke may even lose my home and cannot pay what they'd want if no generics show up and my Dr. could care less about the suffering it will cause me with only 19% of my heart and Pulmonary nodules, tumors COPD, Bronchiectasis and Asthma from 9/11 and that doesn't include the broken down mess of pain I'm in. I fought taking drugs for years by bodybuilding and a heart attack assures me I'll not make withdrawing as I have six times from surgeries. This time it will kill me, and now at my age it will cause me great suffering and death. I'm alone and this week will tell me what I'm in for and it is Genuinely terrifying!

WHY ARE WE NOT FIGHTING AS A LARGE LOBBY OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER AND CANNOT MAKE IT WITHOUT OR THROUGH THUS. Go stop the Ethiopians from making much and getting it into the country. The killer fentanyl on the street, and the heroin which never came from the drugstore and no one just chooses to try it if the pain is taken care of appropriately, especially the elderly and to my disbelief I have made it to that large number 65. I no longer feel ashamed at the fact that I have pain and require something to relieve me of it! Perhaps it’s time to contact some of the politicians and have this address for appropriate treatment of opioids for the largest group of people, the elderly! People who suffer from the pain out of surgical screwup‘s and I was left with nothing to live for but more pain, there is no future in that, there is no hope and we have just passed the most hopeful of all the holy holidays and I stayed in and felt purely depressed as these fights are no longer met with the younger and healthier me. The only unfortunate thing is I took four months of large doses of prednisone and what used to be thought of as temporary memory loss is now considered permanent and I am having a tough time, but my ADD allows me the ability to talk. The question is am I going to be a victim or a victor? How about the rest of you?

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Re: RosalieMBo (# 15)

The one thing I did not connect here was the Ethiopians bringing over Fentanyl? Is that a joke? Coming back from war is not easy and I’m sorry for your pain. But 40 mg of oxy? Three times a day? then they stopped you? I’m not quite understanding. I have to keep repeating myself perhaps you didn’t see my answer and that is the AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION and the CDC controlling and telling the doctors in conferences everywhere to stop the flow or limit the opiates. I just read the two Executives who just got arrested in NYC for giving out thousands of Oxys and Fentanyl to people. THIS IS WHAT IS RUINING IT AS WELL! Deceptive doctors! These types are the problem as well. I too know the feeling of being alone during holidays... I practically live in my church and did so for Holy Week. That helps my loneliness. Anyway if your abusing drugs people, doctors don’t like that as well. Especially if you go in without a diagnosis and seem desperate. Since my primary will only give me 15 Oxy per month( what a joke), but my pain management doctor (he gives me shots) wants to give me more monthly, I actually refused the switch over because I don’t want to end up a slave to a doctor and talked down to like I’m five years old. So this way I am in control of my pain not take every day. Sub with 800 Ibuprofen etc... As a senior myself, I offer my pain up to God. I’d rather suffer than suffer any withdrawals from a doctor who says yes for a year then takes away. Most of them just s***.

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Of the 400,000 that died between 1999 and 2017, how many died because of oxycontin??? More of those that died, died because of other opioid abuse, such as heroin and fentanyl!! So FDA give us correct and not made up facts plz!!! Be honest!!

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Re: Beth (# 17)

Look at the thread about OxyContin and the wealthy Sackler family who made it and the millions of deaths caused by it. period.

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Re: nimshie29 (# 4)

"These companies have money to spare". Really? And the State doesn't? After all they are not spending their money. It is the tax payers money. One of the objectives of these lawsuits is to drive the companies into bankruptcy. If it is proven in Court (so far it is only an assertion. People/companies still have the presumption of innocence.) One of the things that most do not know is that most of the "opioid" crisis deaths is due to the illegal fentanyl and heroin brought into this Country by criminals. Under no circumstances should people who have been forced onto pain killing LEGAL meds for reasons beyond their control be caught up into this "war". Some times there are no decent alternatives. Do you accept short term injections? If you do then the problem the injections temporarily fix will be the least of a persons problem. Do you accept surgery when the Neurological Association Surgeon tells you BEFORE THE SURGERY that they will be lucky if they can correct 40-50% of the issue. More likely it will be closer to 20%. OR, if you tolerate the pain meds and do not abuse them do you just stay on the pain meds long term as the only real option? This is the issue for many. To have basically no long term options other than pain medications to give you any relief or quality of life a persons choices are either temporary relief or pain meds.

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Re: Bella (# 2)
It was suggested that I go to a more powerful analgesic (from Hydrocodone 7.5/325 to OxyContin 20 mg.) I absolutely refused. I said that I wanted to stay where I was. I was left where I was. No blowback whatsoever. I guess some are with practices that get all upset if you refuse their offer of more powerful pain medications.

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Re: charlie (# 61)

Thank you Charlie I mean that. He was a great kid too just experimented. That one instance of experimenting, now it’s his fault the other guy can’t get his meds..I should also mention he had Epilepsy as well and just wanted to fit in. My sister, his mother hasn’t gone out in five years and is a mess still. My faith was all I had. It’s all I have now. I am not young either and I suffer debilitating pain from RA and back pain. I could go to a pain clinic but I refuse to become a slave to them so my primary just gives me 15 Oxycodone per month 5 mg and when I get a flare, I’ll take one. But I know enough not to get involved with this stuff I benefit from injections and over the counter. Walking helps as well. Anyway I wish these people would go read my post on the Sackler family who owns Purdue Pharma then they would see what they did to others and destroyed so many lives with peoples deaths. You need to be educated in what is going on and why the doctors are not giving them out. It’s nothing to do with kids experimenting. Nobody talks about the dealers who in my opinion should be hung in the square in public, like El Chapo. He’s killed so many Americans and non as well. Do people get out from behind their video games?? Like I said I feel for all who suffer but if your doctor isn’t giving you anything there’s a reason and it’s not because of my nephew. It’s because of you. God Bless you Charles I will say a Rosary for you and all here. I think because of my strong faith God keeps me intact. Thank you again these guys can really be bully’s and gang up on an old lady.

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charlie (# 61) —

YOU are just as ignorant as bella the hun. She has posted some of the most awful comments on this thread and they were unsolicited. You should never preach to anyone. Trying to judge others is just plain stupid.

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Re: Judy (# 62)

YOU and bella the hun make a good pair. At least. I do not take any pill handed to me by any person on the street. I will not tell you to go to hell. I am alive and that little dope fiend that bella is so quick to be codependent with is dead. Good. Another one bites the dust....another one bites the dust...there’s another one down there’s another one gone another one bites the dust. I am glad that little dope fiend is gone. All he ever did is take illicit drugs and kill himself. ONE UNKNOWN PILL. How stupid can you be? I have ignored all of the ignorant posts by bella and those like YOU. I have had enough of ignoring stupid people like you two.

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Re: cliff j (# 59)

So cliff we don't have to tell you to go to hell,..your sorry ass is going to hell for talking about the dead this way,..wow..is all I can say...grow up. How old are you anyways?...2 ??...will you be the next to od?.. humm better watch out, the next pill you pop might be your last..you do not need to be a junkie to od. I will bet you have an addiction problem. Oh wait next your going to say oh no I'm not an addict, I never fill my pills early, I have taken them for years, and years I'm only dependent upon them. So let's hear you say the words for all us to read..don't forget to tell me to go to hell to. And when you check out and start your journey to hell, dont let the door slap you on your a**

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Re: Bella (# 58)

I will stand by you bella, and will always watch your back,..I wish I knew you, but friends we are,..those who call others junkies are most likely one themselves...I mean you don't have to be a KID, or a junkie to OD,.,...it's just others are just not knowledgeable about what's going on..people who live in glass houses...shouldn't throw stones....I'd prefer them to bite their lip, and think before they speak,. Because IF they truly are knowledgeable enough they would not speak on this topic, and I was raised catholic until I was old enough to decide what religion I wanted to grow up as,..however I sure do know I would not speak about someone who has passed away and whomever our higher up leads our heavens watching down on us all, don't they know his ears hear all,..??.. well I have to wonder when he's gone will he be raised above or GO TO HELL? JUST LIKE HE TOLD YOU TO GO..Ha, ha, he's definitely going to hell,..mark my word..lol...so now I expect something said back to me by him,..oh my feelings will be hurt....

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Re: cliff j (# 59)

Go to hell you say? Calling a deceased teenager names? You’re a poor excuse for a person but you are not human. You clearly are an addict. By saying you’re still here .....for now, is because you know what you’re doing. Your not a kid. To blame them, call me a satanist, saying he’s scum bounces right off me into you. For you are the one suffering and you are the godless one. I love my faith and go to church 3 times a week. So beautiful and a good feeling that I put my trust in God, not doctors. And for you to blame addicted kids is beyond F stupid. You’re the only one. Every other smart person knows it’s the doctors who have been warned by the AMA not to give out the drugs. Addiction is a disease. My nephew did not start with a doctor. I don’t owe you anything. Feel sorry for you that you have to get help. You’re very angry and are struggling with your addiction. You need not come on here to yell at me and make fun of my dead nephew because you don’t have you’re 30 mg 20 times a day drug. Kids may experiment, but adults like you who know better, should have more of a grip on things. Have a nice day. I have always advocated kids and addiction, we have over 500 people who walk for addiction in his name. I do what I can do. You just well, sit on your ass and complain.

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Re: Bella (# 58)

Your sorry ass nephew taking drugs unknown to him is what has got the chronic pain patient in so much crap. He od’s and every legal pain patient pays the price. The authorities cannot get him for his illicit drug use so they attack innocent people. Go Away!!! You are a pariah and a complete jerk. You want to be codependent with a sorry lowlife illicit drug addict. He is dead because he ingested an unknown substance. Case closed. You make excuses for him. I am alive and he is dead. Seems like justice to me. I am sick of reading your ascerbic posts. You are a satan worshipper and NOT any decent person or Catholic. Find someone else to be codependent with. Your sorry lowlife nephew is dead and real chronic pain patients have had to pay the price of his sorry legacy. I have ignored your insanity for long enough. I have avoided you because you are an ascerbic person now go away and stay away.

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Re: cliff j (# 55)

There is one thing I agree with this post and that is there is no opioid crisis. There is a Heroin/Fentanyl crisis. But liberal mayors need to say opioids. There are just so many ignorant people on here waiting to get their pain medication then calling kids junkies. I laugh at that because the ones who are calling them junkies are the same ones who themselves are. WATCH WHAT YOU SAY about kids being addicted. Or are you too high to understand? YOU HAVE STARTED THE CYCLE HERE BY SAYING THE KIDS WANT TO DIE. Read the nasty posts then read the compassionate ones. The compassionate ones are the ones who need their meds and are not angry. The angry talking s*** about blaming kids is so utterly ridiculous I can’t even comment. See once you all started that pill you all became an addict and for a good reason called pain. So your pain is no different from my nephew's pain, emotional pain is debilitating. Let that sink in and stop being so angry that’s a dead give away.

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Re: RosalieMBo (# 52)

Is that a threat? Another rant you just can’t control yourself can you. And you wonder why. Girl bye.

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Re: cliff j (# 55)

It used to be called Heroin Addiction. When I lost access to all of its cousins, I tried to find it. But a grandmother is not going to be trusted or told where to find it. So I have had to do other things most of which has cost more money than I could ever afford. I no longer even shop at thrift stores for myself. I have no right to expect the comfort of a properly fitting pair of used shorts when I have jeopardized my families ability to keep housing and food. We are a couple of years away from Social Security. Not that those funds will be much help. We have to sell our house so that we can maintain some kind of life.

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