Massachusetts Attorney General Targets Oxycontin Maker Purdue, Says They Engineered Opioid Crisis (Page 2) (Top voted first)

The Massachusetts attorney general is targeting Purdue Pharma and eight members of the Sackler family who own the company, alleging in a lawsuit they are "personally responsible" for deceptively selling OxyContin.

The attorney general, Maura Healey, sat down with CBS This Morning. She alleges the Sackler family hired "hundreds of workers to carry out their wishes" – pushing doctors to get "more patients on opioids, at higher doses, for longer, than ever before" all while paying "themselves billions of dollars."

In her lawsuit, Healey names eight members of the family that own Purdue Pharma, alleging they "micromanaged" a "deceptive sales campaign." In the conclusion to the complaint, Healey said the Sackler family used the power at their disposal to engineer an opioid crisis. Almost 400,000 people died from opioid overdoses between 1999 and 2017, according to the CDC.

Full Story: CBS This Morning

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Re: Beth (# 17)

Look at the thread about OxyContin and the wealthy Sackler family who made it and the millions of deaths caused by it. period.

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Re: nimshie29 (# 4)

"These companies have money to spare". Really? And the State doesn't? After all they are not spending their money. It is the tax payers money. One of the objectives of these lawsuits is to drive the companies into bankruptcy. If it is proven in Court (so far it is only an assertion. People/companies still have the presumption of innocence.) One of the things that most do not know is that most of the "opioid" crisis deaths is due to the illegal fentanyl and heroin brought into this Country by criminals. Under no circumstances should people who have been forced onto pain killing LEGAL meds for reasons beyond their control be caught up into this "war". Some times there are no decent alternatives. Do you accept short term injections? If you do then the problem the injections temporarily fix will be the least of a persons problem. Do you accept surgery when the Neurological Association Surgeon tells you BEFORE THE SURGERY that they will be lucky if they can correct 40-50% of the issue. More likely it will be closer to 20%. OR, if you tolerate the pain meds and do not abuse them do you just stay on the pain meds long term as the only real option? This is the issue for many. To have basically no long term options other than pain medications to give you any relief or quality of life a persons choices are either temporary relief or pain meds.

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Re: cliff j (# 20)

Pain management clinics are really only there to hook you up then pull out the rug. At least in people’s experiences I’ve been told. The doctors get kick backs in these clinics, that’s why they are targeted. Profit over people. Most 99% are in need of pain meds then there comes the one who’s really good at manipulating. But he really isn’t because the doctors don’t give a s*** about you. There are many compassionate doctors who do, but not in these clinics. I saw a kid come out with the biggest grin once...too young for pain I thought but one never knows. Walking by as if he just hit the lottery. As for me I stick with my primary for pain meds now and it’s ridiculous I only get 15 pills 5 mg oxy and continue to suffer because I once asked for 30 she took a fit. And for 15 I had to sign my life away...considering I never did drugs in my life until I was diagnosed with issues as a senior what you have to go through is not worth it. People only resort to buying on the streets. Breaks my heart. And please it’s nothing to do with the awful Heroin/Fentanyl addicted kids. But someone has to be blamed so blame the addicted kids. Addiction is a disease. Everyone experimented in my day...that’s just what you do. Feel bad for today’s day and age....good decision hope you feel better.

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Re: Bella (# 24)

I don’t care what the AMA says. These addicted morons are ADDICTS—NOT the victims of a “disease”. The same AMA says obesity is a “disease”. Every issue is always someone else’s fault and it is people that enable them and justify their behavior. No one wants to accept responsibility for their personal issues and people like you are nothing more than codependent with them. As far as you saying your relative never stole anything I say you are lying. How would you know what this person did to feed their habit? Someone had to make a CHOICE to start on this crap in the first place. Accept responsibility for your actions. Quit being a whiner and blaming everyone else but YOU! I do not care how many EXCUSES you come up with. The individual that took the illicit drugs in the first place is the problem.

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Re: cliff j (# 30)

You went right over my question and that was HOW IS MY NEPHEW RELATED TO YOUR ADDICTION? your ignorant. Your what’s wrong with society. You have a hatred and a stigma on kids who are addicted. He didn’t kill himself. It was ACCIDENTAL like your birth. I am CATHOLIC and was counseled by my priest who knows more about death dying and suffering than you will ever know. Except I truly hope you suffer for the disturbing statements you have said about a deceased child. I don’t know how old you are, as for me I am not addicted to anything like you are. Millions of kids have overdosed because of a bad pill or batch. THEY NEVER KNEW this. They experimented. Yet I see you not commented on the DEALERS but blame the addicted kids for your addiction ya that makes sense. My last statement to you because you’re not worth anymore than I already gave...is one day you will see. Maybe you’re suffering now that’s why your here.

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Re: Bella (# 16)

Bella, I’ve been in AA for 37 years, and subscribe to a very old message which was "take nothing that alters your emotional mental or physical self so that you can develop the character you were meant to"... 45 years ago I couldn’t even get into the gym to strengthen because I was a skinny person with terrible posture. I started very late and it was difficult to even hold a 1 pound wrist weight without making noise as I did not want to take any pain meds (which as you said would only own me). Of course, with my personality I became a bodybuilder ... just because I had to do something more as I had more energy than most being ADD/ADHD, had lots of different bad sources to contend with, and lots of illnesses and surgeries. Was also going into detox’s with stitches in place to clean the crap out of me. Seven times.

Some things are out of my control. I checked into the hospital three times as the stent that I ("Ms fitness out of nowhere") needed, and subject to the only test I have feared, an angiogram. I started to become weaker but still working out. But after 9/11, and I was with the first classified victim Father Mychal Judge, coming up from the subway, and we found the maelstrom. He said, "let’s go!" I couldn’t say no, he was my spiritual adviser, and after pulling out over 60 people, I got hit with the remains of some poor spirit.

I also got hit extremely hard in 2015-2016 with a 46 pound weight loss in one month and only 19% of my heart’s pump functioning. Quite easy to see by anybody. I started to get burglarized, and my tenant’s son made certain that the lieutenant did not make any reports. He even walked in here and took the police out! This happened many times. Plus with no protection no help, no family, I decided to sell my dream home, for which they caused me more problems than anything in the world, but I hung in there.

I got a 60 day cash deal contract, and even though those rent controlled tenants bought and lived exclusively in a house in New Jersey for 3 1/2 years now, I was to deliver this place as vacant. And by law I’m not allowed to speak to them, and my lawyer and my realtor certainly did screw me and betrayed me, as greed is as an evil foe! They wanted $300,000 to give up the rights of the empty apartment fraudulently, and with a 104 fever and some kind of a comatose state yet, had to move - and in retrospect I should’ve waited until those papers were signed by them, now I stand to lose my home as my taxes increased by over 11k a year more than my income, and I have tried much to get it back down.

Am losing this battle. After three months of my pain management dr trying to get generic (the same) of what now has eaten up almost every muscle of mine - creating the pain I cannot control - got that together. But when asked for his help and questioned exactly what his job entailed, if not for finding a reason that caused the incredible pain that has returned with the vengeance of age, as well and stress beyond belief. I’ve done major surgeries under local shots, and to my Dr’s disbelief, couldn’t move. Then coming back home they took our gas meters so I can’t even cook, and I can’t pay my mortgage and my utilities and it’s been pretty tough time for me.

Anyways, 1 foot in front of the other, and at 5’6” 103 pounds is not easy to look at while I continue to disappear alone, isolated, and terrified. How many people realize that if they are lucky enough to reach an age above 55, that they might just reap the things they’ve ignored in their youth ... And now find themselves in pain, elderly, and I consider that condition is where people become throwaways. No one has to agree with me as it is my experience. What I have read and seen with my own eyes that gives me the opinion that no matter what I truly expect more than half the population will be in pain and has nowhere to go. And I can only tell you I have asked my cardiologist if he knows how to get me off that regimen of opiates with my heart and he doesn’t have a clue... just as my pain management doctor hasn’t got a clue as to the effects on my heart and lungs in detox off these drugs that I did not want in the first place.

The worst part is how hard I fight not to be in this position and I haven’t the strength any longer. And like questioning him, actually asking him to help me now that some things were not a problem, he dismissed me and gave me a prescription for two sheets of Suboxone a day. The last time I did that I took 6 x 8mg pills a day and was in full withdrawal. I really don’t think I’m going to make it past this one and I don’t really know with all the things that encircle me heavily that I cannot get out of alone. I have no idea but you’re write to the Government, City and state regarding many issues that I do not deserve, but nonetheless own.

You can’t even live in a box in the street anymore with your name on it in New York today, so what am I supposed to do! The last thing I had in mind. I'm dependent and now broke and in debt for the first time in my life at a time that I cannot meet the needs it takes to fight as I used to. I am sure I’m here for a reason and I must fight. Nowhere in my mind is the belief that it is in people, but in the medical field, who has created it... And not Purdue as the fall guy in all of this baloney that they are trying to stick on us and have us believe. It appears my doctor is worthless and try to cover up in his statement, not going to happen, but I want all of this and I know how much I hurt, but I will either grow or go as I never expected to live this long anyway. No one else in my family has and I’m just a bit more weaker and tired than I require. I never borrowed money and I had to borrow 350 K just to make it past one year (and that’s on paper), and I’m going to wind up in the street anyway, but there is no blaming Ethiopia even though I look like an Ethiopian right now wow that’s scary. And most help is for tenants, so I have been betrayed at a seriously painful level and I am very angry that my spirit is changed forever. And I will not allow a foreclosure as I was raised to pay your bills before you eat, but they have certainly put them way to high to meet. I was even dragged out of Delta’s airport because 19% of my heart has to regenerate if it is stressed too much and I wore a caduceus bracelet. And not once was I asked if I was OK and dragged off to Jamaica hospital.

The humiliation grows, and if that’s why am here, then I'd better do whatever it takes to make that known as everyone who is lucky enough as I said to get here in a healthy manner in which I did everything I could possibly do to be just that, but it didn’t work that way for me. Be cautious in wording things as you never know it might be the last thing somebody is holding onto called Hope, and that is not sometimes very easy to hold onto. But to be a slave to a drug which getting off of would kill me and no one would give a darn. It is quite sad, so I better make certain to make enough noise in all the right places, as I don’t blame all the people that take drugs, for the ones who decide in the street and wind up over dosing.

There is so much more to life than texting and keeping one’s head in their phone or computer. There are people, people who are still alive, to share more than just LOL and the blame doesn’t fall on Purdue for a personal choice of any individual. I’m sorry that I jumped negative stuff on people’s spirits here, as that wasn’t my intention, but there are things that occur that are not planned yet they are!

And I want no pity but if you want to fight, you can join me as I am going to start making more noise and accusations with films and CDs to prove that they cause what will continue putting their children through college. Before I stopped to support my parents, I did it you’re in middle school and at the commencement ceremony they said, "Our world is not to be fast and practical, but, To Dream and Explore!" It certainly is not going to be easy, Imagine that!

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Re: Charlene (# 34)

I owe NO ONE, much less Bella, an apology. I. said that people should take responsibility for their own actions. Her nephew took illegal drugs and it killed him. I am tired of the codependent people who try and justify every adverse thing they do with an excuse. They have a “ disease”. Baloney. They made a bad choice. YOU are the one that has a nasty attitude. I have never been a drug addict and I am not addicted to anything. I have taken PRESCRIBED, legal pain medications. And I have survived many decades longer than a 20 year old. You think that everyone that does not agree with YOUR OPINION is nasty. I will NEVER say that creating excuses for another’s bad choices are correct. Accept responsibility for your own actions. NO ONE takes responsibility for CHOICES I make. Theiris no one that is creating a “codependency” with me or any choices I make. The difference between me and this other person is that I accept responsibility for any bad choices I make. She makes excuses for others who make bad choices. The pills I take are taken after many tests, step therapies, and consideration of what options I have. Her “nephew” had the choice to NOT take any illegal drugs but he took them anyway—and it killed him. My pills are taken as prescribed and are legally prescribed. Her nephew took illegal drugs that were not prescribed to him. There is nothing “not nice” about calling people out for being codependent with a street drug addict. That is my opinion but people like YOU say others are not entitled to their opinions. Only yours are valid. While you try to counsel others on how to write a post you send out an ascerbic post yourself. I do not care what others like YOU think about me or my opinion. I will never be afraid to call out a person that posts what I perceive as a codependent position (like making excuses for a street drug addict that kills themselves). Again, stop making excuses for those that made bad choices. Quit blaming others for their bad choices. No one should take any pleasure on the bad choices of another but he made the CHOICE and look where it got him. I am alive and he is not. All because he CHOSE to take an illegal substance. “Disease” my ass!

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Re: nimshie29 (# 4)

Like the State doesn't? One of there strategies is to subject any company they sue to an elongated process that costs mega bucks. The State can much easier bring this type of civil litigation because they have “bottomless pockets” due to the fact that their money comes from the taxpayers.

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Re: ThunderHeart (# 42)

I agree with the vast majority of your post. It is the street users and abusers that has been the biggest spur to this so called "opioid crisis". They cannot prosecute the street drug addicts mainly because they have no assets and it is one thing to get a judgement but another thing to collect on it. I am still on the fence about Purdue, the manufacturer. If they intentionally pooh poohed the addictive quality of their medications and basically said there is no concern then they may have some culpability. I will wait for the FACTS. I do agree that most people are "free moral characters". You have a CHOICE about what to ingest into your system. If I make the CHOICE to take street drugs then I would expect no one to feel sorry for me. Anyone that is addicted to street drugs needs to talk to competent people and get off these things.You started them and, with effort, you can get off them.

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Re: Bella (# 44)

You are so far out in left field to say such an ugly thing!!

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Re: Bella (# 51)

Bella, You really need to put a lid on your nasty mouth! You never know a lot of things, you never know what your mouth and your addiction to opening it inappropriately will bring you, so watch yourself and those words... Any like them, let me make this very clear, very clear, don’t you ever come at me with them again, EVER!! Don’t bother calling yourself a Catholic either, and if you don’t like anything I say keep your Uneducated and uninvolved mouth shut because I didn’t speak to you as though you were the center of the, certainly not my universe, I spoke to a subject matter which is what a forum and this chat is. Like I said your addiction is evolved around your own self-centered crap and I’m not interested in you but the issues discussed here! It’s like I already said your addiction is evolved around you, all self-centered crap and I’m not interested in you but in the genuine issues at hand. Pay attention and perhaps a neuron or two might fire at the synapse that tells you there is an ISSUE that needs attending that affects a lot of people!!!!!

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Re: RosalieMBo (# 52)

Is that a threat? Another rant you just can’t control yourself can you. And you wonder why. Girl bye.

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Re: Bella (# 2)
It was suggested that I go to a more powerful analgesic (from Hydrocodone 7.5/325 to OxyContin 20 mg.) I absolutely refused. I said that I wanted to stay where I was. I was left where I was. No blowback whatsoever. I guess some are with practices that get all upset if you refuse their offer of more powerful pain medications.

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Re: nimshie29 (# 4)

And the State doesn’t? That is why you see STATES bringing these suits. They have bottomless pockets. They want to Bankrupt these companies and some deserve it for the narrative they painted.

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Re: Bella (# 22)

Wow. I do not even know what to address first. It is awful that the patient/Doctor relationship has devolved into where it is. If a patient feels that their treatment plan is not working then they should be able to have an unemotional discussion with their Doctor. No one whether it is the patient or the Doctor should go ballistic just because they want to open a discussion regarding their treatment plan. As far as trying to state that the street addicted people of any age that take street heroin and street fentanyl not having anything to do with the problem is just wrong. They are one of the main reasons that we are where we are. They steal anyone’s medications that they have the opportunity to steal and thumb their noses at society by doing illegal drugs. That does not even take into account all of the burglary’s they commit to get money for their drugs. I am not willing to let people off so easy by saying they have a “disease”. It is just like fat people saying they have a disease.People that have issues need to take affirmative steps to rid themselves of the issue(s) they are dealing with. I am done with all of the codependency. I do not mind helping people that want help but a person cannot get assistance unless they make up their mind that they want assistance.

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Re: cliff j (# 23)

Unless you had a child DIE from an overdose you cannot speak about it. My nephew died at 20 years old and NE-VER started with pills! He NE-VER robbed anyone nor get into trouble. EVER. He EXPERIMENTED LIKE YOU at one time. Only these kids get in a bubble and they can’t get out! There is no help and if it were as easy to say “ya today I’ll stop the drugs” they’d be no overdoses. Blaming an addicted child is plain ignorance and uneducated about the real problem. The American Medical Association already declared it a DISEASE IN 1962! So you’re behind on your ridiculous statement! If I was allowed to say things they would not print this. Shame on you.

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Re: cliff j (# 25)

He lived with me. He was in college. You're the one that’s blaming kids for your own addiction.

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Re: Cliff J (# 27)

He was in a coma first from pneumonia a year earlier. For 5 days my family prayed. When he awoke the first words he said were "thank you Jesus." We were stunned. After the coma he didn’t know how to use a washing machine and his thought process and decisions were compromised by this complication. He almost died while in the coma. No drugs before this. I know he is in Heaven as for yourself I’m not so sure. You’re a nasty person and I truly hope you sU??er. How DARE you call my nephew not too bright! He was studying Engineering. You are a pos.

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Re: Cliff J (# 27)

I’d like to know how my nephew had anything to do with your desperation to want a doctor prescription? He never went to a doctor for drugs. He did a pill from college that btw someone is being prosecuted in as we speak. HOW IS THIS THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU??? These kids suffer. There is no help even if they want to be clean! It’s the system. Don’t EVER speak about addiction again in the manner that you have. Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing! It's a brain disease, chronic, progressive, deadly and potentially deadly. You don’t read, prob can’t get out etc...and I thank MEDSCHAT for allowing me to call you out. Talk about stupid.

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Re: Bella (# 28)

You know he is in Heaven? Well, it is not up to me and it surely NOT up to YOU. I will worry about me and you take care of YOU. ANYONE that OD's from street drugs is not too bright, it doesn't matter what they were studying. He will probably be given another chance to right his conduct when there is the resurrection. (If everyone goes immediately to Heaven then why is there even a resurrection?) He had some mental infirmity somewhere to get involved in street drugs and then he kills himself. How easy is it to blame a disease? This way NO ONE has to take responsibility for their own actions. YOU need help before YOU end up killing yourself.

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