Behind the Fiction: Painkiller’s Gritty Reality
In the compelling realm of Netflix’s riveting limited series, Painkiller, a dark curtain is lifted to expose the harrowing aftermath of the opioid epidemic, ignited by the widespread overprescription of dangerously addictive medications. This fictionalized portrayal unravels the chilling narrative of the Sackler family’s pivotal role in orchestrating the crisis, delving into their creation of the notorious painkiller OxyContin. While the series takes creative liberties, its roots are firmly grounded in real events, notably the impactful article “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain,” as well as an array of books that probe the opioid scourge. Painkiller unflinchingly lays bare the controversial history of the Sackler family’s association with Purdue Pharma, the inception of OxyContin, deceptive marketing maneuvers, and the subsequent legal battles and settlements.
A Gritty Glimpse into Painkiller
The latest sensation to captivate Netflix audiences, Painkiller, is a six-part saga that delves deep into the catastrophic consequences of the opioid epidemic that engulfed America. This dark chapter in history was born from the rampant overprescription of potent pain-relief medications. At the heart of this fictitious series stands Richard Sackler, brought to life by Matthew Broderick, who masterminded the meteoric rise of OxyContin through the pharmaceutical giant Purdue Pharma. The narrative reveals Sackler’s unwavering pursuit of turning OxyContin into a blockbuster drug, with little regard for its destructive repercussions on the illicit drug trade. While the series takes artistic liberties, it draws inspiration from the actual Sackler family, albeit scratching the surface of the profound devastation wreaked by opioid addiction. The series concludes on a haunting note, underscoring the shocking statistic that approximately 300,000 lives were claimed by OxyContin addiction over two decades—a figure that Painkiller, though impactful, merely encompasses a fragment of.
A Canvas Painted with Realis
The genesis of Painkiller can be traced to the groundbreaking work of Patrick Radden Keefe. Keefe’s influential article for The New Yorker, “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain,” acted as a cornerstone for the series. This journalistic piece led Keefe to craft an extensive novel by the same name, offering intricate insights into the Sackler family’s controversial legacy. Additionally, Barry Meier’s 2003 nonfiction masterpiece, The Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic, and other pertinent texts on the subject, lent invaluable depth to Painkiller’s portrayal of the psychological ramifications of addiction. These sources collectively illuminated the dark reality of addiction stemming from prescription drugs like OxyContin.
The cast of characters, including the poignant depiction of opioid addict Glen Kryger (Taylor Kitsch), his wife Lily (Carolina Bartczak), and their son Tyler (Jack Mulhern), were crafted to mirror the dire consequences of opioid abuse. The series embarks on each episode with a disclaimer that it is rooted in real events while acknowledging that certain characters, scenarios, and plot elements were dramatized for narrative effect. To bolster the parallels with reality, genuine testimonies of victims are seamlessly woven into the series.
The Sackler Legacy and OxyContin Origins
Painkiller meticulously details the multifaceted history of the Sackler family. Hailing as one of the world’s wealthiest business families, the Sacklers left an indelible mark through their patronage of arts and education. Arthur Sackler, portrayed through flashbacks by Clark Gregg, wielded substantial influence within the medical domain, particularly psychiatry.
The marketing strategies of Arthur, however, laid the groundwork for the alarming proliferation of prescription painkillers. While Arthur’s passing in 1987 marked the end of an era, his brothers Raymond (Sam Anderson) and Mortimer (John Rothman) took the reins of Purdue Frederick—the pharmaceutical entity. Raymond’s son, Richard (Broderick), continued the family legacy by spearheading research into painkiller formulations throughout the 1990s.
Richard’s focus settled on OxyContin—a potent oxycodone-based formulation that escalated the opioid crisis. While concerns regarding OxyContin’s addictive potential surfaced, Purdue Pharma’s sales representatives touted a study suggesting limited addiction rates among patients. However, this assertion was debunked by Herschel Jick, one of the original authors of the study. Despite the controversy, OxyContin received FDA approval in 1995.
Subsequently, OxyContin’s market debut triggered a surge in popularity over its initial five years. The Sacklers’ clandestine role in the approval process emerged—the approval being signed by Dr. Curtis Wright (Noah Harpster), who would join Purdue Pharma merely two years later. Richard and Purdue Pharma embarked on an aggressive advertising campaign, incentivizing sales representatives and doctors alike. The latter were rewarded generously for prescribing OxyContin, culminating in annual revenue exceeding a billion dollars.
The Dark Underbelly: Investigation and Legal Battles
Uzo Aduba’s character, Edie Flowers, although fictional, encapsulates the amalgamation of federal investigators from Louisville, Kentucky, who took Purdue Pharma to court for deceptive OxyContin representation. The Sacklers settled the case for $24 million, only to face additional lawsuits linking them directly to the escalating opioid-related fatalities linked to OxyContin. In a twist of fate, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in 2019.
However, the Sackler family’s estrangement from the drug did not shield them from public scrutiny. Keefe’s article propelled the Sackler family into the limelight, triggering a wave of awareness about their role in the crisis. Notably, photographer Nan Goldin initiated an artist-led movement to eradicate the Sackler name from institutions that had benefited from their philanthropy.
The saga continues, marked by the Sacklers’ payment of $4.5 billion for legal immunity after Purdue’s bankruptcy. Despite this, the initial settlement was overturned in 2021, holding the Sacklers accountable for civil charges. The family agreed to a $6 billion settlement, and a Supreme Court case commenced on August 10 to scrutinize the Justice Department’s stance.
