Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America

Beth Macy's Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America is a gripping and meticulously researched account of the opioid crisis in America. The book follows the stories of three people whose lives were forever changed by the epidemic: a doctor who prescribed opioids too freely, a pharmacist who sold them illegally, and a recovering addict who fought to expose the truth.

SUMMARY OF DOPESICK: : DEALERS, DOCTORS, AND THE DRUG COMPANY THAT ADDICTED AMERICA BY BETH MACY

by United States Government US Army

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	341 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	6 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Macy's book begins with the story of Dr. Richard Sackler, the billionaire CEO of Purdue Pharma, the company that manufactured OxyContin. Sackler was a brilliant marketer who convinced doctors that OxyContin was a safe and effective pain reliever. He also lobbied the government to weaken regulations on opioids. As a result of Sackler's efforts, OxyContin became one of the most widely prescribed drugs in America.

But OxyContin was not as safe as Sackler claimed. The drug was highly addictive, and it led to a surge in overdose deaths. In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, and two-thirds of those deaths involved opioids. The opioid crisis has had a devastating impact on families and communities across the United States.

Macy's book tells the stories of the people who have been affected by the opioid crisis. She follows the story of Dr. Art Van Zee, a family doctor who prescribed opioids too freely. Van Zee was a well-respected doctor in his community, but he was also struggling with addiction. He eventually lost his medical license and spent time in prison.

Macy also tells the story of John Kapoor, a pharmacist who sold opioids illegally. Kapoor owned several pharmacies in West Virginia, and he sold millions of OxyContin pills to drug dealers. Kapoor was eventually convicted of racketeering and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Finally, Macy tells the story of Patrick Radden Keefe, a recovering addict who fought to expose the truth about the opioid crisis. Keefe wrote a series of articles for The New Yorker that helped to raise awareness of the epidemic. He also testified before Congress about the role that Purdue Pharma played in the crisis.

Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the roots of the opioid crisis and the devastating impact it has had on families and communities across the United States. Macy's book is a powerful indictment of the greed and recklessness that led to the epidemic, and it is a call to action for us to do better.

Additional Resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Opioid Overdose Epidemic
• Drug Enforcement Administration: OxyContin
• NPR: Meet the Family That Owns Purdue Pharma, Maker of OxyContin
• New York Times: Inside Purdue Pharma, the Company That Fueled the Opioid Crisis
• Washington Post: The Sacklers: The Family That Built an Empire of Pain

SUMMARY OF DOPESICK: : DEALERS, DOCTORS, AND THE DRUG COMPANY THAT ADDICTED AMERICA BY BETH MACY

by United States Government US Army

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	341 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	6 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE