SC.12: Deep Dive – Dopesick: TV Mini Series

Approximate reading time: 2 minutes

Creator: Danny Strong

Starring: Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg

“Dopesick” is a television mini-series that explores the opioid crisis in the United States, particularly focusing on the impact of OxyContin, a prescription painkiller produced by Purdue Pharma. Here’s a brief description of each of the episodes:

1. First Bottle: Introduces the aggressive marketing of OxyContin in the late 1990s and its impact on a mining community.
2. Breakthrough Pain: Explores the growing addiction issues in the community and Purdue Pharma’s strategies to promote OxyContin.
3. The 5th Vital Sign: Highlights Purdue Pharma’s efforts to redefine pain treatment, impacting doctors’ prescribing habits.
4. Pseudo-Addiction: Examines the concept of “pseudo-addiction” promoted by Purdue Pharma to downplay addiction concerns.
5. The Whistleblower: Focuses on the efforts of a Purdue Pharma employee to expose the company’s misleading marketing practices.
6. Hammer the Abusers: Depicts the legal and personal struggles of those affected by OxyContin addiction and Purdue Pharma’s response to abuse claims.
7. Black Box Warning: Centres on the legal battles against Purdue Pharma and the FDA’s involvement in regulating OxyContin.
8. The People vs. Purdue Pharma: Concludes with the legal reckoning for Purdue Pharma and the personal and societal toll of the opioid crisis.

Each episode of “Dopesick” delves into different aspects of the opioid crisis, from the individual lives affected to the broader systemic and corporate actions that fueled the epidemic.