Topic: Oxycontin

McKinsey & Company agreed to pay $650 million to settle federal investigations into its role in "turbocharging" OxyContin sales for Purdue Pharma. The consulting firm accepted responsibility for advising Purdue to target high-volume prescribers, contributing to the national opioid epidemic.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Sackler family cannot use Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy to escape personal liability for the opioid crisis. Additionally, the hosts express anticipation for a ruling on "Chevron deference," which could significantly limit the power of federal administrative agencies.

The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a $6 billion settlement for Purdue Pharma that would have shielded the Sackler family from future civil lawsuits. The Biden administration objected to the deal's liability protections. The hosts compare the Sacklers to larger pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson, suggesting the family is being used as a scapegoat for the broader opioid crisis.

A federal appeals court cleared a bankruptcy deal for Purdue Pharma that shields the Sackler family from future civil lawsuits related to the opioid crisis. As part of the settlement, the family will pay $6 billion and relinquish control of the company. The ruling has been controversial, as it provides legal immunity to the owners of the company primarily blamed for the OxyContin epidemic.

A federal bankruptcy judge approved a controversial deal allowing the Sackler family to gain immunity from future opioid lawsuits in exchange for a $4 billion payment. The deal allows the family to keep billions of their fortune while stopping hundreds of civil lawsuits. The hosts describe this as a "scam of scams" that protects the family without them personally filing for bankruptcy.

News B-roll footage regarding the Adderall shortage reportedly included images of Oxycontin, raising concerns about the pharmaceutical industry's intentions. Teva Pharmaceuticals is currently involved in a Senate opioid probe and has been linked to fentanyl production. The hosts speculate on a potential "China's revenge" scenario involving the saturation of the US market with addictive opioids.

The U.S. records over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in a 12-month period, driven largely by synthetic fentanyl. While the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma face fines for their role in the OxyContin epidemic, critics argue the focus on them distracts from other major manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson. NPR reports emphasize Mexican drug cartels and pandemic disruptions as primary drivers of the surge.

The Hulu series Dope Sick, starring Michael Keaton, depicts the history of the Sackler family and the marketing of OxyContin. The narrative highlights how the term "breakthrough pain" was allegedly invented by pharmaceutical companies to justify doubling dosages when time-release medications failed. This historical marketing tactic is compared to the modern use of the term "breakthrough cases" in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Hulu series "Dopesick," produced by and starring Michael Keaton, dramatizes the OxyContin crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma in the opioid epidemic. The show is noted for its harsh critique of the pharmaceutical industry's marketing practices. Its presence on a major streaming platform like Hulu is seen as a significant commentary on corporate accountability.

A federal bankruptcy judge approved a controversial settlement for Purdue Pharma that grants the Sackler family immunity from future opioid-related lawsuits. The deal requires the family to pay $4 billion but allows them to maintain their private fortunes and admit no wrongdoing. The immunity extends to hundreds of other entities, a move criticized by several state attorneys general as a dangerous precedent for corporate accountability.

McKinsey & Company agreed to a $573 million settlement for its role in "turbocharging" the sales of OxyContin for Purdue Pharma. The consulting firm reportedly instructed sales reps on how to bypass FDA restrictions and target doctors to increase prescriptions. This story has received limited coverage in mainstream media, likely due to the firm's deep ties to the CIA and political figures like Pete Buttigieg.

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and kickback charges, admitting to bribing healthcare providers to increase prescriptions. Despite a $5 billion settlement and forfeiture, the hosts argue that the fine is insufficient for the "mass murder" and destruction caused by the company. They lament that the news was buried during the holiday week.

Observations from former drug users suggest a correlation between heroin use and the immediate onset of vocal fry in the voice. There is a discussion regarding whether synthetic opioids like OxyContin produce the same glottalization effect. Additionally, certain cough syrups containing chemicals like Ventolin are reported to cause temporary but severe vocal changes.

Rush Limbaugh is heard defining podcasts as "talk shows for people who cannot make it in talk radio." The hosts respond to the "bigoted" comment by jokingly agreeing that they are losers who had to invent their own medium.

The Attorney General of Massachusetts files a lawsuit against the billionaire Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, for their role in the opioid epidemic. Court documents allege that Richard Sackler encouraged the company to blame "addicts" for the crisis while aggressively pushing OxyContin sales. The hosts also discuss the side effects of the drug, noting that high doses reportedly contributed to radio host Rush Limbaugh's deafness.

Purdue Pharma is facing numerous lawsuits from state Attorneys General regarding the marketing of OxyContin. Former sales representatives claim they were trained to use the term "pseudo-addiction" to convince doctors that patients showing signs of addiction actually needed higher doses of the drug.

Purdue Pharma announced it will stop promoting OxyContin to doctors following a wave of lawsuits from states and municipalities over the opioid epidemic. The Sackler family, owners of the private company, have amassed an estimated $35 billion to $40 billion in sales since the drug's release in 1996. Critics view the cessation of marketing as a PR move to soften public sentiment as the company faces allegations of duping the public about the drug's addictive nature.

The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that musician Tom Petty died from an accidental overdose of multiple medications, including Fentanyl and OxyContin, used to treat a fractured hip. The tragedy is framed within the larger context of the American opioid epidemic and pharmaceutical advertising.

Sam Quinones describes how Purdue Pharma used aggressive marketing techniques, including giveaways and trips, to convince doctors that OxyContin was non-addictive. For the first 14 years of its existence, the drug lacked abuse-deterrent properties, allowing users to build high tolerances. When patients could no longer afford the pills, they often transitioned to cheaper heroin provided by the Jalisco traffickers.

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, has agreed to pay $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit in Canada involving patients who became addicted to the painkiller. Meanwhile, in Miami, a 10-year-old boy named Alton Banks died after inadvertent contact with fentanyl, highlighting the extreme potency of synthetic opioids. These events underscore the widening scope of the opioid epidemic and the increasing legal accountability for pharmaceutical manufacturers.