The opioid crisis in the USA has caused a huge amount of damage over the last decade. It’s believed that fentanyl abuse is killing around 1,500 people per day and that figure is only getting worse as the crisis deepens.
The role Purdue Pharma has played in that, as well as other pharmaceutical companies, is huge and we’re now at a point where the Sackler family, founders of Purdue are at the front of the crisis, facing long court battles after people have got clean through a private drug rehab clinic and look at the company as the driving force behind becoming addicted in the first place.
For those that are unaware of the Sackler scandal, here are five things you should note about it…
Their role in the opioid crisis
The opioid crisis is at the heart of the Sackler scandal of which the USA is still hugely suffering from. Through aggressive marketing of Purdue’s product, OxyContin, it caused widespread addiction to opioids, with Purdue generally downplaying the damage it can cause.
Of course, they weren’t the only company doing this at the time, but certainly the most prominent and many people within the industry are now pointing the finger at the Sacklers and how they caused such a huge issue in the USA.
Legal battles and Purdue bankruptcy
As a result, the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma have faced numerous legal battles, in 2019 filing for bankruptcy as part of a proposed settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits against them.
It’s become much more compex than that, with the US Supreme Court still undecided as to whether that settlement is enough, or whether the many people affected can also go after the Sackler family itself, who still acquire such huge wealth, taking a significant amount out of Purdue before filing for bankruptcy and settling for $6billion.
Controversy around philanthropy
Interestingly, the Sackler family have been largely philanthropic over the years, with their name adorning cultural institutions and educational establishments worldwide. That’s prompted a large amount of scrutiny over their efforts, much in the same manner as Lance Armstrong following the doping scandal.
It’s thrown up many debates as to whether certain institutions should reassess their association with the Sacklers and whether it’s morally and ethically ok to accept donations that are linked to such a crisis.
The global impact
The impact of the opioid crisis and Purdue’s role in it has stretched far beyond the borders of the United States, and has sparked debate as to whether stronger regulations are needed in many parts of the world.
The public perception of pharmaceutical companies and the industry as a whole has come under intense scrutiny, with many questions raised about the ethical proactices of them, prioritising profit over the wellbeing of people.
Lessons about corporate resonsibility
Finally, the Sackler scandal will undoubtedly serve as a warning and case study in corporate accountability for many years to come. It’s an example in the importance of transparency, regulation and the need for accountability. It’s led to reforms in the pharmaceutical industry and the role governments play in public health crises.
Of course, this scandal will rumble on for many years to go, and court cases will continue, but it’s important to follow amidst what is a severe public health crisis in the USA and one that needs to improve before it causes even more problems for a huge population of people in the country.