Empire of Pain: The Opioid Saga That Makes 'Breaking Bad' Look Like a Disney Movie

"Empire of Pain" is a gripping and disturbing account of the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, the company that created and aggressively marketed OxyContin, a highly addictive painkiller. The book explores the history of the Sackler family and their involvement in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as their efforts to hide the addictive nature of their products, all while making billions of dollars.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is the detailed account of the devastation caused by OxyContin and the opioid epidemic. Keefe provides harrowing anecdotes of individuals who have been affected by addiction, as well as a broader view of the impact on communities and the healthcare system. The book also sheds light on the role of Purdue Pharma in fueling the epidemic and the lengths the company went to in order to protect their profits.

Keefe's writing is powerful and engaging, and he does an excellent job of weaving together the various threads of the story. His research is also impressive, as he draws on a wide range of sources, including interviews with current and former employees of Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family, as well as legal documents and other public records.

One of the most notable aspects of the book is the portrayal of the Sackler family's relationship with the government. The book discusses the ways in which the Sacklers used their wealth and political connections to protect their business interests, even as the opioid epidemic was taking a devastating toll on communities across the country.

The way they influenced the government was through lobbying efforts. Purdue Pharma spent millions of dollars on lobbying activities, including hiring influential lobbyists and making campaign contributions to political candidates who were sympathetic to their interests. According to an article in The New Yorker, Purdue Pharma employed dozens of lobbyists and spent over $700,000 on lobbying activities in 2017 alone.

The Sacklers also cultivated relationships with key government officials. The family donated generously to political campaigns and built close relationships with members of Congress and other government officials. In 2016, the Sacklers donated over $200,000 to political candidates and political action committees, according to an article in The New York Times. They also donated millions of dollars to cultural institutions and universities, using these donations as a way to gain influence and shape public opinion.

In addition to lobbying and campaign donations, the Sacklers also used their influence to shape government policies and regulations related to the opioid epidemic. They were involved in the creation of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, which was established in 2018 by the Department of Health and Human Services to develop guidelines for the use of opioids in pain management. According to an article in The New Yorker, the Sacklers used their connections to ensure that their interests were represented on the task force.

The Sacklers' influence on the government has been widely criticized, with many arguing that their actions contributed to the opioid epidemic and the devastating toll it has taken on communities across the country. In recent years, the government has taken steps to hold Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for their role in the crisis, including through lawsuits and criminal charges. However, the legacy of the Sacklers' influence on the government and their role in the opioid epidemic continues to be felt today.

The book has received widespread critical acclaim since its release in 2021. In a review for The New York Times, Dwight Garner called it "a masterwork of reporting and a devastating critique of avarice." In The Guardian, Ed Cumming described it as "a haunting and memorable piece of investigative journalism." And in The Washington Post, Jennifer Szalai wrote that it "offers a stunning indictment of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family."

Several articles have also been written about the book and its subject matter. In an article for The Atlantic, Sarah Zhang discusses the ways in which "Empire of Pain" illuminates the broader issues of capitalism and the pharmaceutical industry. In a piece for The New Yorker, Keefe himself explores the role of art in holding the Sackler family accountable for their actions. And in a review for NPR, Maureen Corrigan highlights the book's contribution to the ongoing conversation about the opioid epidemic.

Overall, "Empire of Pain" is a must-read for anyone interested in the pharmaceutical industry, addiction, and the broader social and economic forces that shape our world. Keefe's writing is both engaging and informative, and his research is impeccable. The book provides a chilling look at the lengths that some will go to in order to protect their profits, even at the expense of countless lives.

The Sackler family's influence on the government has been well-documented in various news articles and in the book "Empire of Pain" by Patrick Radden Keefe. The Sacklers used their vast wealth and political connections to influence government policies and regulations related to the opioid epidemic, despite clear evidence of wrongdoing by their company, Purdue Pharma.

One of the ways in which the Sacklers influenced the government was through lobbying efforts. Purdue Pharma spent millions of dollars on lobbying activities, including hiring influential lobbyists and making campaign contributions to political candidates who were sympathetic to their interests. According to an article in The New Yorker, Purdue Pharma employed dozens of lobbyists and spent over $700,000 on lobbying activities in 2017 alone.

The Sacklers also cultivated relationships with key government officials. For example, the family donated generously to political campaigns and built close relationships with members of Congress and other government officials. In 2016, the Sacklers donated over $200,000 to political candidates and political action committees, according to an article in The New York Times. They also donated millions of dollars to cultural institutions and universities, using these donations as a way to gain influence and shape public opinion.

In addition to lobbying and campaign donations, the Sacklers also used their influence to shape government policies and regulations related to the opioid epidemic. For example, they were involved in the creation of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, which was established in 2018 by the Department of Health and Human Services to develop guidelines for the use of opioids in pain management. According to an article in The New Yorker, the Sacklers used their connections to ensure that their interests were represented on the task force.

The Sacklers' influence on the government has been widely criticized, with many arguing that their actions contributed to the opioid epidemic and the devastating toll it has taken on communities across the country. In recent years, the government has taken steps to hold Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for their role in the crisis, including through lawsuits and criminal charges. However, the legacy of the Sacklers' influence on the government and their role in the opioid epidemic continues to be felt today.

References:

 "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain" by Patrick Radden Keefe in The New Yorker:

"The Sackler Family: A Ruthless Marketing Machine That Makes Billions From OxyContin" by Ed Cumming in The Guardian

"The Sacklers and America's Opioid Crisis", The New York Times

 "The Sacklers’ Philanthropy and the Opioid Crisis" by David A. Graham in The Atlantic