Empire of Pain

Empire of Pain is a comprehensive historical account of the Sackler family and their involvement in the opioid crisis in the United States. The book, written by Patrick Radden Keefe, delves into the family's rise to wealth and influence through the pharmaceutical industry, particularly their company Purdue Pharma, and the production and marketing of OxyContin, a highly addictive opioid painkiller.

Background

The Sackler family is a prominent American family known for their philanthropic efforts and their significant contributions to the arts and sciences. However, their wealth is largely derived from Purdue Pharma, a pharmaceutical company they own, which is infamous for producing OxyContin.

Content

Empire of Pain provides a detailed account of three generations of the Sackler family. It begins with the three Sackler brothers - Arthur Sackler, Mortimer Sackler, and Raymond Sackler - who bought a small pharmaceutical company in 1952 and transformed it into Purdue Pharma. The book then explores how the family aggressively marketed OxyContin, leading to its widespread misuse and the subsequent opioid crisis.

The book also discusses the lawsuits faced by the family and Purdue Pharma due to their role in the opioid crisis, and the family's attempts to protect their wealth and reputation.

Reception

Empire of Pain has been widely praised for its thorough research and compelling narrative. Critics have lauded Keefe's ability to weave together the complex story of the Sackler family and their role in the opioid crisis.

See Also

• Opioid crisis
• Purdue Pharma
• Sackler family
• OxyContin

External Links

• Official website