DECEMBER 2022:
This review contains spoilers and detailed episode information, do not read further if you have not watched ‘Dopesick’ in its entirety!!!
AMERICA’S CRISIS UNVEILED…
Dopesick is a gripping limited series on Hulu that brings to life the devastating impact of the opioid crisis in the United States. Based on the book, “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America” by Beth Macy, the series offers a comprehensive and harrowing look at the individuals and institutions involved in fueling the epidemic. The American drama miniseries was created by Danny Strong as a Hulu Original limited series that premiered on October 13, 2021, with three episodes and concluded on November 17, 2021, with a series finale eighth episode. The limited series Hulu Original was well received by critics with mostly favorable reviews, in particular to the cast and their performances, most notably of those were Kaitlyn Dever and Michael Keaton. At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, the miniseries received fourteen nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, and acting nominations were earned for Keaton, Dever, Will Poulter, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Mare Winningham, with Michael Keaton winning the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie. In addition to his Primetime Emmy win, Keaton also won Lead Actor at the 79thGolden Globe Awards, 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, and 20th Critics’ Choice Television Awards.
Dopesick centers around “the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction” across the United States, it focuses on how individuals and families are affected by it, the miniseries also looks at the alleged conflicts of interest involving Purdue Pharma and various government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), and all of this takes place on the backdrop of the legal case against Purdue Pharma and their development, testing, and marketing of the drug OxyContin. The series follows the stories of various characters affected by the crisis, including patients, doctors, Purdue Pharma executives, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and DOJ officials. It sheds light on the deceptive marketing practices employed by Purdue Pharma, and their role in promoting the widespread use of opioids, specifically OxyContin.
Through a mix of historical context, personal narratives, and investigative drama, Dopesick reveals the complicity of doctors who overprescribed these addictive pain medications, unknowingly contributing to the Opioid epidemic. It also examines the struggles faced by individuals and families grappling with addiction, highlighting their personal battles and the obstacles they encounter within a flawed healthcare system. The limited series doesn’t shy away from addressing the systemic failures that perpetuated the crisis. It explores the intricate relationships between Purdue Pharma and regulatory bodies, revealing alleged conflicts of interest and the manipulation of scientific research.
With its well-crafted storytelling, Dopesick illuminates the complex web of factors that led to the opioid crisis and raises important questions about accountability, corporate greed, and the desperate need for change. The performances by a talented cast, including Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, and Peter Sarsgaard, bring depth and authenticity to the characters, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative. Dopesick is a thought-provoking and timely series that confronts the viewer with the harsh realities of addiction and its far-reaching consequences. It serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the opioid crisis and find sustainable solutions to combat addiction and support those affected by it.
THE CAST AND CHARACTERS OF DOPESICK…
The characters in the limited series are fictional and composite characters, except for Rick Mountcastle, Randy Ramseyer, and the members of the Sackler family, who are the only main characters based on real people.
MAIN…
Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix
Peter Sarsgaard as Rick Mountcastle
Michael Stuhlbarg as Richard Sackler
Will Poulter as Billy Cutler
John Hoogenakker as Randy Ramseyer
Kaitlyn Dever as Betsy Mallum
Rosario Dawson as Bridget Meyer
RECURRING…
Jake McDorman as John Brownlee
Ray McKinnon as Jerry Mallum
Cleopatra Coleman as Grace Pell
Raúl Esparza as Paul Mendelson
Will Chase as Michael Friedman
Phillipa Soo as Amber Collins
Mare Winningham as Diane Mallum
Lawrence Arancio as Raymond Sackler
Jaime Ray Newman as Kathe Sackler
Arischa Conner as Leah Turner
Ian Unterman as Jonathan Sackler
Brendan Patrick Connor as Howard Udell
Andrea Frankle as Beth Sackler
Winsome Brown as Theresa Sackler
Alan Campbell as Dr. Paul Goldenheim
Meagen Fay as Sister Beth Davies
Trevor Long as Rudy Giuliani
EPISODES…
EPISODE TITLE: “First Bottle”
DIRECTOR: Barry Levinson
WRITTEN BY: Danny Strong
AIRDATE: October 13, 2021
In the gripping series premiere of Dopesick, titled “First Bottle,” we are introduced to a diverse group of characters whose lives will be profoundly affected by the opioid crisis gripping their community. The episode opens in 1986 and Richard Sackler (Michael Stuhlbarg), a member of the Sackler family that owns Purdue Pharma is criticizing the medical community for ignoring the plight of the average citizen’s chronic pain. His goal is to create a new drug that would finally address people’s long-term chronic pain. Richard is trying to develop a life-changing drug for pain at Purdue Pharma, but the Sackler family knows developing a super drug is not a cheap endeavor and they are questioning the amount of money Richard is spending to get this new wonder drug on the market.
Then the episode flashes forward to 2005, where Assistant Unites States Attorney Rick Mountcastle (Peter Sarsgaard) is leading the cross-examination of doctors asking when they first heard of OxyContin. One of the doctors testifying includes Dr. Samuel Finnix (Michael Keaton) who describes that “pain” is a buzzword to doctors and that for Finnix himself, he can’t believe how many of his patients that he prescribed the painkiller to are now dead. Then the episode flashes back to 1996, with a glimpse into the seemingly idyllic small town of Fitch Creek, Virginia located in the Central Appalachia area of the United States. The mine is the main employer of the town, and we officially meet Dr. Samuel Finnix, a compassionate family physician who genuinely cares about his patients at his medical practice. He is a typical small-town doctor, with a nurse, Leah Turner (Arischa Conner) and a habit of making house calls on his elderly patients to ensure they are taking their medications on time. Driven by a desire to alleviate their suffering, Dr. Finnix will eventually begin prescribing OxyContin to his patients with chronic pain, the drug is a powerful painkiller newly introduced to the market.
Simultaneously, across town, we are introduced to the Mallum family. Jerry and his daughter Betsy (Roy McKinnon and Kaitlyn Dever) work in the mine while Diane (Mare Winningham) has their dinner prepared each evening. The family lives by their devout Christian values and gives thanks for the mine and all that it offers the family and Fitch Creek, but Betsy has been keeping a secret from her family. Betsy is lesbian and is in a relationship with her coworker Grace (Cleopatra Coleman) and is afraid to tell her family due to their Christian values. As the episode progresses, we are introduced to other individuals whose lives will intertwine with Betsy’s. An injury at the mine will put Betsy on a collision course with OxyContin.
Flash forward to 2002, we officially meet Rick Mountcastle as he is preparing to investigate Purdue Pharma and the effect OxyContin has had on the district. He is taking his direction on the case from the United States Attorney John Brownlee (Jake McDorman), and Mountcastle with his partner Randy Ramseyer (John Hoogenakker) take their first steps into the planet of pharmaceuticals and the murky world that is Purdue Pharma and OxyContin. Mountcastle and Ramseyer meet with DEA agent Bridget Meyer (Rosario Dawson) who vaguely hints at her frustration trying to investigate the Sackler family, Purdue Pharma, and has stalled in her investigation of OxyContin.
Back in 1996, Purdue Pharma is assembling a large-scale sales force team to win the friendship of every country doctor around the nation. Billy Cutler (Will Poulter) is one of the sales representatives from Purdue Pharma who ventures out to meet with Dr. Finnix about OxyContin. Billy meets with a skeptical but receptive Dr. Finnix, armed with scientific data and an FDA label that says that less than 1% of patients will become addicted to this new opioid called OxyContin. Dr. Finnix, believing that it is safe when the Mallum family calls about Betsy’s pain from the recent injury at the mine, Dr. Finnix prescribes the new medication Billy had told him about, OxyContin.
“First Bottle” sets the stage for a harrowing exploration of the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on individuals, families, and society at large. With addiction, corruption, and the pursuit of justice at its core, the series Dopesick promises an unflinching portrayal of a national crisis that continues to affect countless lives.
EPISODE TITLE: “Breakthrough Pain”
DIRECTOR: Barry Levinson
WRITTEN BY: Danny Strong
AIRDATE: October 13, 2021
In the gripping second episode of Dopesick, titled “Breakthrough Pain,” the devastating consequences of the opioid crisis continue to unfold as our characters grapple with their own personal battles and confront the powerful forces at play. In 1996, at Purdue Pharma, the initial sales numbers are in on their new painkiller OxyContin, and while the numbers are successfully reassuring, Richard Sackler, always the perfectionist, wants to do better. As a result, Billy and the other sales representatives are sent back out to their doctors to talk up OxyContin. Billy meets with Dr. Finnix once more and informs him that doctors can double the prescription for their patients. Dr. Finnix questions the facts behind this revelation, and we see how Purdue Pharma has coined the phrase in the public relations campaign for OxyContin, “breakthrough pain”. According to Purdue Pharma, some patients will have this breakthrough pain and will thus need to have their dose of the painkiller doubled in their prescription.
Flashforward to 2002, and we follow Rick and Randy as they are investigating the ad agency and participants behind the commercial made to promote OxyContin, Rick had noticed when reviewing the tapes over and over that OxyContin is never mentioned in any of the testimonials. When they question the participants, Rick and Randy learn that they were never told to say the words OxyContin on camera. They also learn that many of the commercial participants did go on to use OxyContin, became addicted, and one participant even dies from an overdose. Simultaneously, over at the DEA, agent Bridget Meyer starts her investigation in Kentucky at a local pain clinic. When she arrives and tours the clinic waiting room, all of the patients look strung out and high on drugs. While she is at the pain clinic, she stops a mugging intended to steal someone’s OxyContin prescription, and Bridget quickly learns that OxyContin is not just for pain management. She finds out from the teenage mugger that the drug is being abused and that most of the kids at his school are addicted to OxyContin.
Back in 1996, Dr. Finnix is seeing improvement in his OxyContin patients. This leads the doctor to abandon his misgivings about the painkiller, Dr. Finnix starts to bond with Billy as they share lunch together. While Dr. Finnix is trying to connect with the young sales rep, Billy sees Dr. Finnix as his cash bonus. As a result, Billy decides to inform Dr. Finnix of the benefits of attending a weekend seminar hosted by Purdue Pharma in Scottsdale, Arizona.
While in the future of 2002, Rick and Randy navigate an attempted shutdown by the Department of Justice, they do learn that the warning label for OxyContin, which the FDA approved, may have been pushed along for approval with little oversight and no clinical trials of the painkiller completed to evaluate the effects and safety of the drug, which would have included the addiction probability and ratio to patients.
Back in 1996, Dr. Finnix makes his way to Scottsdale where he meets other doctors and sales representatives. Dr. Finnix is encouraged to participate in a town hall presentation with Billy where he thanks the company for providing the relief that his community needs. Meanwhile, Purdue Pharma executives are getting ready to release a new dosage of the painkiller, the 80 mg tablet of OxyContin. The sales numbers for OxyContin are off the charts amazing and a cash cow for the pharmaceutical company.
“Breakthrough Pain” delves deeper into the marketing practices of Purdue Pharma around OxyContin. The episode also exposes the systemic flaws and conflicts of interest with regulatory bodies that have fueled the opioid crisis, setting the stage for a gripping exploration of justice, redemption, and the fight for change.
EPISODE TITLE: “The 5th Vital Sign”
DIRECTOR: Michael Cuesta
WRITTEN BY: Danny Strong & Beth Macy
AIRDATE: October 13, 2021
In the gripping third episode of Dopesick, titled “The 5th Vital Sign,” the devastating impact of the opioid crisis deepens, shedding light on the far-reaching consequences and the tireless efforts of those fighting for change. It’s 1999 and we watch as a thief smashes the window of a pharmacy and steals all the OxyContin, he can carry with two hands. While crime is spiraling out of control across the country in regard to OxyContin, Purdue Pharma has a new campaign notion, that is being marketed by pain advocacy groups, that revolves around pain being regarded as “The 5th Vital Sign”.
Then we travel back to 1997, where Betsy Mallum is feeling much better and Dr. Finnix wants to start tapering her off OxyContin. Betsy trashes her pills in a nearby dumpster, thinking she is better without them. Purdue Pharma on the other hand, has plans for doctors and the public. To help boost the consumption of the drug, doctors are now being told to individualize the doses for their patients. Purdue Pharma’s justification for this is that not all pain is the same for every person. Doctors are encouraged to give higher prescriptions than what was initially recommended. The success of OxyContin in America has emboldened Richard Sackler, and he wants to introduce OxyContin in Germany, one of the most restrictive bodies for prescription drugs in Europe. While Purdue Pharma plots on how to crack the German market, Billy returns to visit Dr. Finnix. While Billy is enquiring about his patients, Dr. Finnix informs Billy that he is currently tapering off one of his patients from OxyContin. Billy explains that what he has been told by Purdue Pharma about a patient that is using 60 mg or less can quit the drug cold turkey without any withdrawal effects. Betsy is proving this to be wrong as she begins withdrawing from OxyContin having discarded her pills.
Flashforward to 2003, Rick Mountcastle is seeking access to Purdue Pharma documents but is quickly denied his claim in court. Purdue Pharma lawyers successfully fend off the attack and claim that Purdue Pharma should be receiving a Nobel Prize for eliminating pain. Simultaneously, Randy Ramseyer is undergoing cancer surgery and in recovery, he is prescribed OxyContin, which he refuses. When Rick comes to visit his partner in the hospital, the two learn how far a reach Purdue Pharma has in the hospitals. From the pain charts to the posters on the wall, Purdue Pharma is directing the distribution of their drugs and pain management from behind the scenes.
1999 brings us back to DEA agent Meyer and her investigation into OxyContin. Crimes in rural areas are out of control, and while investigating the pharmacy robbery, Bridget learns from the pharmacist that he didn’t want to carry OxyContin but felt threatened by the sales representatives that he would be sued if he didn’t carry the popular medication. Simultaneously, while trying to help Betsy come out to her parents back in Fitch Creek, Dr. Finnix takes Jerry Mallum fishing. They talk about Betsy’s injury but when Dr. Finnix broaches the subject of Betsy being lesbian, it feels like Jerry is accepting his daughter’s sexual orientation. When Jerry returns home for dinner, he informs his daughter about a chat with the doctor while fishing and then tells his daughter that it would kill him if Betsy was lesbian. Betsy, in the middle of withdrawal symptoms, comes out to her parents and announces plans to move out of the home and leave Fitch Creek with her girlfriend Grace. Upset by what her parents say, Betsy returns to the dumpster to try and retrieve the pills she threw away at Dr. Finnix’s office. Seeing the empty bin, she returns to work the next day, in serious withdrawal and pain and causes an explosion in the mine which injures others.
Back in 1999, Agent Bridget Meyer‘s investigation into Purdue Pharma and OxyContin gains momentum. As she unearths more evidence, she faces increasing threats and pressure in her pursuit of justice. Meyer is promoted to Deputy Director of Diversion in the DEA, and she turns in her gun to work the desk and begins her quest in earnest to remove OxyContin from the streets. Her professional success is met with an engagement proposal by her boyfriend, Paul Mendelson (Raúl Esparza).
A couple of years later in 2002, Rick Mountcastle is seeing the mountain of circumstantial evidence building in his case and decides to infiltrate the Appalachian Pain Foundation info session. Sitting in the audience, Rick quickly sees that the nonprofit foundation parrots the talking points of Purdue Pharma about OxyContin. Rick and Randy learn Appalachian Pain Foundation and a host of other nonprofit pain foundations are funded in one way or another by Purdue Pharma. With this mounting evidence, Rick is successful in court and gains access to the promotional material, funding, and distribution of OxyContin from Purdue Pharma.
Back in 1997, Dr. Finnix travels to visit his sister-in-law. They have a pleasant visit where they talk about Dr. Finnix’s wife, and how it’s time for the doctor to start dating again. Dr. Finnix leaves content on the blessing only to get into a car accident. Dr. Finnix breaks four of his ribs and is prescribed OxyContin for his pain.
“The 5th Vital Sign” exposes the ongoing marketing of OxyContin by Purdue Pharma and the use of promotional material, funding, and distribution by Purdue Pharma. The episode also reveals the withdrawal symptoms and addiction factor of the drug that Purdue Pharma exasperated by the higher dosage and individualized dosage and disregarded the safety of the patients and malpractice of the doctors convinced to prescribe the drug to their patients.
EPISODE TITLE: “Pseudo-Addiction”
DIRECTOR: Michael Cuesta
WRITTEN BY: Jessica Mecklenburg
AIRDATE: October 20, 2021
The fourth episode of Dopesick, titled “Pseudo-Addiction,” explores the complex nature of addiction and the intricacies of pain management, shedding light on the gray areas between legitimate pain relief and opioid misuse. It’s 1997, and kids are learning that if you crush up OxyContin and snort them, then the high is nothing felt before. With the new way of misusing the drug, deaths can be expected and in the opening moments, we see a teenager overdose in his car. Betsy has lost her job at the mine and has taken a job as a gas station attendant. Addiction has been tough on Betsy and the effect of OxyContin is evident in her demeanor and appearance. But Betsy is not the only one who is struggling. Dr. Finnix is well into his addiction as a result of his own OxyContin prescription from a car accident. What seemed like the best way to manage his pain from the injury has resulted in the doctor struggling to get by and stealing the patient’s medication in his office to satisfy his addiction. While OxyContin is making a ton of money for Purdue Pharma, the word is starting to get around about the addictive nature of the pills. Richard Sackler wants to change this narrative and is looking to recruit an aggressive specialist in pain that will help neutralize the threat of bad press. With their new pain guru, Purdue Pharma proclaims that addiction is not real, in fact, it is “pseudo-addiction” which is a symptom of true pain. The only way to eliminate pseudo-addiction is to prescribe more pills.
Flashforward to 2004, Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer have finally received the Purdue documents they requested through the court and are slowly combing through the mountains of boxes delivered to their office by Purdue Pharma as per the court order. After meeting with US Attorney John Brownlee, Rick, and Randy are discouraged about their chances of success with the amount of boxes and time it will take to evaluate the evidence in them, and are left wondering how they can ever catch up to Purdue Pharma. Flashback four years to 2000 at the FDA, Bridget Meyer is looking to reign in Purdue Pharma and OxyContin in her ongoing investigation into the company and its addictive drug. At a meeting with the watchdog agency and regulatory body of the federal government, Bridget lays out her reasons for a reevaluation of OxyContin only to be steamrolled by the uncooperative bureaucrats. Bridget is sounding a warning bell about the dangers of OxyContin, but the FDA officials see the drug as a miracle for those in pain.
Meanwhile, back in 1997, Dr. Finnix is spiraling deep into a hole of his addiction to OxyContin. The doctor knows that he is in trouble and tries to quit the drug cold turkey. When Billy returns to visit Dr. Finnix, the changes in the doctor are obvious and Billy sees the visible change and wonders what is going on with Dr. Finnix. Dr. Finnix questions Billy about addiction and then proceeds to berate the young salesperson for selling poison. Furious over his own predicament, Dr. Finnix punches Billy in the face and throws him out of his office. Dr. Finnix warns Billy that if he ever comes back, he will kill him. Billy starts to wonder about the consequences of his actions and his job representing Purdue Pharma and if what he has been telling doctors is untrue and if Purdue Pharma made him culpable in the addiction of Dr. Finnix and so many others across the country. Betsy has an uncomfortable reunion with her ex-girlfriend Grace. Telling her that she is only passing through town, Grace leaves money for Betsy, which Betsy proceeds to use to fund a drug trip to Florida, where it is easy to buy OxyContin at pain clinics. Betsy sinks deeper into the depravity of her addiction to OxyContin with no hope of recovering from it with it so accessible in pain clinics like the ones in Florida.
Back in 2004, Rick and Randy are digging through the mountain of documents supplied by Purdue Pharma to give them a never-ending pursuit of evidence and meant to hold up their case indefinitely, but they have a theory. Purdue Pharma quoted a New England Journal of Medicine ‘study’ to help support their quest to eliminate chronic pain. Rick and Randy learn that the study quoted by Purdue Pharma wasn’t a study at all. The basis of their campaign to eliminate pain is rooted in a letter to the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Back in 1997, Betsy comes home from Florida to find her family with her ex-girlfriend Grace holding an intervention for her drug use. Overwhelmed by the actions of her loved ones, Betsy agrees to go to an addiction meeting only to be sold OxyContin in the bathroom by another attendee. Simultaneously, the crippling addiction to OxyContin continues to destroy lives as we watch Dr. Finnix meet with the local drug dealer. Informed by the dealer that he should try crushing the oxy and snorting it, Dr. Finnix returns home and gets high. Hallucinating his dead wife, Dr. Finnix is left to dance the night alone high out of his mind.
Throughout the episode, the stories of these individuals affected by the opioid crisis are interwoven. We witness the struggles of patients managing chronic pain with the overuse and misuse of OxyContin, the devastating impact on families torn apart by addiction, and the untold stories of those who have lost their lives due to opioid overdose. “Pseudo-Addiction” delves into the nuanced challenges faced by individuals battling addiction and chronic pain. It highlights the importance of understanding the intricacies of pain management that quickly turns to addiction as a result of the marketing practices of Purdue Pharma and its mission to change the narrative on addiction to OxyContin. Through the personal journeys of our characters, the episode aims to foster empathy, awareness, and a renewed commitment to finding solutions in the face of the ongoing opioid crisis.
EPISODE TITLE: “The Whistleblower”
DIRECTOR: Patricia Riggen
WRITTEN BY: Danny Strong & Benjamin Rubin
AIRDATE: October 27, 2021
In the fifth episode of Dopesick, titled “The Whistleblower,” the courage and sacrifices of an individual who exposes the dark secrets of Purdue Pharma come to the forefront. This episode shines a spotlight on the power of truth and the price one must pay to bring about change. Episode 5 begins with the legal team looking to prosecute Purdue Pharma in search of a whistleblower, while the victims of OxyContin addiction plunge further into their nightmare of dependence.
It’s 2002, and the plague of OxyContin has left families filled with tragedies. One mother has witnessed the death of her daughter due to OxyContin addiction. She builds her own website detailing the lies that Purdue Pharma has constructed around the benefits of OxyContin. Feeling like she is screaming into the wind, someone is paying attention. Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer call her and want to talk about Purdue Pharma and OxyContin.
Back in 1999, Dr. Finnix is struggling with his addiction, and the doctor has now co-opted a patient to help him procure OxyContin pills all over the state. Dr. Finnix’s addiction is so bad that he is taking up to 400 mg a day in pills. Simultaneously, Betsy Mallum is completely out of control. She’s stealing her mother’s jewelry and pawning it for drug money. Meanwhile, over at Purdue Pharma, Richard Sackler is overjoyed with the success of OxyContin. To Sackler and the rest of his family, Purdue Pharma has found a billion-dollar drug in OxyContin, that will make them wealthy beyond their dreams. With confidence, Richard looks to make some executive changes at the company and hopes to be named president of the company. His idea is rejected by his uncle and the board motion fails for now.
Fast forward to 2004, Mountcastle and Ramseyer question which is the best route in their legal case against Purdue Pharma. They know an insider is needed, and so a whistleblower is sought out. Between the two Assistant United States Attorney’s they pursue sales representatives from Purdue Pharma in hopes that one of them will testify. Randy has some luck in talking with a former sales representative, but she promptly kicks him out explaining that she would never testify thanks to her Non-Disclosure Agreement that she signed when Purdue Pharma terminated her employment.
Flashback to 1999, Billy is starting to see a change in the communities he visits. On a sales trip, Billy witnesses a person snorting OxyContin in a car. There is nothing illegal about the act, but Billy’s conscience is starting to get the best of him. With his girlfriend Amber (Phillipa Soo) Billy talks about his experience and expresses his doubts about the painkiller. Amber tells him to knock it off and reminds him how lucky they are and all the money they will be able to make thanks to OxyContin and Purdue Pharma. But back at Purdue Pharma, Abuse of OxyContin has made its way back to the head office of Purdue Pharma. When a high-ranking secretary is asked to do some investigating into the abuse of OxyContin, her internet search is shocking. She quickly learns that OxyContin is all the rage throughout multiple chat rooms, with instructions on how to make the users high immediately. Her discoveries are reported in an email that is sent to all senior-level executives at Purdue Pharma.
Two years later in 2001, DEA agent Bridget Meyer is looking for a way to outsmart Purdue Pharma and put pressure on the FDA to reevaluate OxyContin. Her husband suggests leaking a story in the newspapers that will ratchet up the tension and force the FDA to act on their own behalf and against the wishes of Purdue Pharma. Meanwhile, Rick Mountcastle is unsure if the legal case he is building against Purdue Pharma is strong enough to go to trial. After visiting with a priest, Rick learns that a young parishioner died from an overdose related to OxyContin. His continued investigation leads him to talk with the creator of an anti-OxyContin website which brings us back to the beginning of the episode. While interviewing the woman behind the OxyContin website, Rick and Randy learn that much of the information provided to the site was given by the former secretary of Purdue Pharma, executive Howard Udell.
Back in 1999, Dr. Finnix is about to crash hard from his OxyContin addiction. While trying to perform a simple procedure on a patient in his office, Dr. Finnix loses his concentration and nearly kills the man. At the hospital, Dr. Finnix is arrested, thanks to a tip from his nurse and the once good doctor is led away in handcuffs by police for his abuse and malpractice as a result of his own addiction to OxyContin. Across town at the Mallum household, Betsy is confronted by her mother and father over the theft of her mom’s jewelry. Admitting that she sold the jewelry for money for OxyContin, Jerry Mallum is angered by this act and grabs Betsy’s pills flushing them down the sink. This sets off a chain reaction in the household, where Betsy destroys the quilt that she made with her mother due to her rage as a result of being addicted to the painkiller and fearing she cannot get more of the drug.
Back in 2001, the press war instigated by Agent Meyer forced the hand of the FDA, and Purdue Pharma. Sensing a problem, Purdue Pharma is willing to meet with the DEA, but Bridget is asked to skip the meeting because her approach is too confrontational. Unwilling to miss out on such an important meeting, Bridget Meyer enters late and begins questioning Richard Sackler and what he and others at Purdue Pharma knew about the dangers of OxyContin. Clearly rattled, Sackler and the rest of the Purdue Pharma team leave the meeting. Encouraged by her boss, Bridget continues her investigation. Meanwhile, Mountcastle and Ramseyer have learned the identity of the fired secretary from Purdue Pharma. Though the secretary is willing to testify about what she knows from her time at Purdue Pharma, Rick, and Randy realize that the secretary, who was a former OxyContin addict, is not a viable choice after she relapses because of the stress of the situation.
Flashback to 1999, Betsy and Dr. Finnix both enter rehab for their addiction at the same time. Betsy’s parents try to get the stolen jewelry back from the pawn shop, learning they have two options they can pursue. They can press charges against Betsy, or they can pay $3000. The parents leave without her mother’s jewelry, and meanwhile, at Purdue Pharma, Richard Sackler is on a mission to succeed. Already proving his success with OxyContin, Richard persuades his cousin to unite with him to take control of the company. At a family meeting, Sackler outmaneuvers his uncle and takes over the company as the president. In rehab, Dr. Finnix is surrounded by other OxyContin addicts, and while quietly adjusting to the routine of recovery, Dr. Finnix has a visitor. His former favorite sales rep Billy has arrived. While Billy is baring his soul about OxyContin and how sorry he was, we see a human side to Billy. He expresses remorse because he too got addicted, but his addiction was to the money that OxyContin brought him. Dr. Finnix explains he lost his medical license, and that rehab was a way to stave off jail time. As much as Dr. Finnix is thankful for Billy’s confession, that’s not what the former doctor wants. He asks Billy if he has any OxyContin. The rise of Richard Sackler continues at Purdue Pharma. As he and other executives are looking at purchasing a new office building for Purdue Pharma, Richard wields the strength of his position and gives an all-cash offer for an expensive new office tower for the company in Stamford, Connecticut.
The episode delves into the lives of these individuals affected by the crisis, including doctors, and patients grappling with opioid dependency, and the families torn apart by their OxyContin addiction. Their stories underline the urgency of the situation and the need for systemic change to prevent further devastation. “The Whistleblower” delves into the sacrifices and risks involved in shedding light on corporate malpractice. It explores the interconnected lives of Dr. Finnix, Betsy Mallum, Rick Mountcastle, Randy Ramseyer, and Agent Meyer as they unite in their fight against Purdue Pharma. The episode examines the transformative power of truth and the profound impact one person can have in igniting change and how being a whistleblower can take an extreme toll on the individual tasked with disclosing the lies of a billion-dollar company and the fear of retaliation that comes with it.
EPISODE TITLE: “Hammer the Abusers”
DIRECTOR: Patricia Riggen
WRITTEN BY: Danny Strong & Eoghan O’Donnell
AIRDATE: November 3, 2021
In the gripping sixth episode of Dopesick, titled “Hammer the Abusers,” the pursuit of justice intensifies as the focus shifts towards holding accountable those who fueled the opioid crisis. This episode explores the legal battles and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals determined to bring about systemic change. The issues addressed in episode five deal with the abusers of OxyContin and are the junkies to blame for the rise in illicit activity with the painkiller or is the drug just bad for everyone and Purdue Pharma is to blame for all of the destroyed families and illicit behavior as a result of their drug OxyContin.
We are taken to the year 2000 when the US attorney for Maine is on a crusade against the drug OxyContin and the effects it has on addicting patients. The press is jumping into the conversation about the addiction to OxyContin, and this starts to worry Purdue Pharma. Richard Sackler is made aware of the implications of the press getting involved in this narrative and a plan is made to divert attention away from OxyContin. Simultaneously, Dr. Finnix is sitting in rehab far away from his Fitch Creek clinic trying to recover and overcome his addiction to OxyContin. Throughout his stay he starts to think about what happens when he leaves and if he will relapse once treatment is over.
Two years later in 2002, Agent Bridget Meyer has been investigating Purdue Pharma for so long at the DEA, and gotten so deep into her work that her marriage has suffered. Bridget and her husband are in counseling. At the same time as her marriage is crumbling, Agent Meyer is still in pursuit of OxyContin and Purdue Pharma through the FDA. Meeting with representatives of the FDA, Bridget learns that the only way action will be taken on OxyContin is if the drug is proven to be defective. This has led Bridget on a quest to prove OxyContin is killing people.
Back in 2000, OxyContin surpasses one billion dollars and Purdue Pharma celebrates its milestone. Each sales representative is excited about the milestone due to the amount of money they get in return. Billy is intoxicated at the party and overhears sales reps bragging about their high sales numbers. Filled with guilt over what OxyContin has done to so many, Billy is close to a fistfight before his girlfriend Amber steps in. Elsewhere, Betsy is still trying to kick her addiction to OxyContin, even though he has found some joy in the church prayer groups, she admits to the priest that she doesn’t think prayers are going to help her through this. And while Dr. Finnix is progressing in his rehab treatment he is still worried that when he leaves, he will immediately relapse. The US Attorney Randy Ramseyer is busy interrogating a doctor who overprescribed OxyContin and is currently serving time in jail for his crime. When he is questioning the doctor, Randy learns that it was blood charts that showed an even dispersal of the drug that convinced the doctor that OxyContin was a worthwhile drug to prescribe.
Bridget Meyer is attending an event at the DEA museum where she meets Rudy Giuliani (Trevor Long). Agent Meyer is an admirer of Giuliani for his leadership in New York during the 911 attacks, Bridget is dismayed to see him pressure her over her investigation into OxyContin and Purdue Pharma and Giuliani pressures her because he thinks OxyContin is a wonderful drug. The investigation by the Maine US Attorney has Richard Sackler and the rest of Purdue Pharma worried. An upcoming law conference will be chaired by the Maine US Attorney and Richard wants to help prosecute the addicts. In Sackler’s own words, he wants to “hammer the abusers”. Worried about what Richard might say or do during the conference, he is advised not to attend and let others go in his place. And back at rehab, Dr. Finnix admits during group about his guilt, and in the discussion, he reveals that he feels like he should die for prescribing OxyContin. Walking out of rehab after 60 days, Dr. Finnix still feels addicted to the drug. It doesn’t take long for Dr. Finnix to relapse. Alone and craving the drug, he gets high.
Flash forward to 2005, Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer go to the FDA to research the process of how Purdue Pharma’s charts were approved for use. From the FDA representative, Rick and Randy learn that the charts Purdue Pharma submitted were rejected. The charts were deemed inappropriate as they distorted the data to look positive, when in fact the data is not proving manipulation on the part of Purdue Pharma. Bridget Meyer is racked with guilt. One of the kids she questioned while investigating OxyContin and Purdue Pharma has overdosed. Blaming herself, Bridget listens as her husband tells her that it’s not her fault, but still feels guilt over the death of the kid. Meanwhile, back at the Mallum home, Betsy Mallum is once again back in her addiction to OxyContin. After talking with her former girlfriend Grace she learned that Grace has moved on to another relationship, Betsy cracks under the pressure of the information and seeks out drugs. Unable to find OxyContin she tries heroin instead and disappears into a drug trip. While Betsy bottoming out in her drug addiction, Dr. Finnix is starting at a methadone clinic in hopes of overcoming his addiction. In Agent Meyer’s quest to stop OxyContin, she has learned a significant number of patients have overdosed and died even though they took the pill as prescribed by their doctor.
“Hammer the Abusers” delves into the complexities of being a recovering addict and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals on the way to seeking justice. It explores the tenacity and determination required to confront powerful entities, highlighting the importance of public awareness, grassroots movements, and the unwavering commitment of those affected by the opioid crisis.
EPISODE TITLE: “Black Box Warning”
DIRECTOR: Danny Strong
WRITTEN BY: Danny Strong & Beth Macy
AIRDATE: November 10, 2021
In the gripping penultimate episode of Dopesick, titled “Black Box Warning,” the devastating truth about the risks and consequences of opioid use comes to the forefront. This episode focuses on the pivotal moment when the medical community, the public, and those affected by addiction must confront the profound impact of opioids on individuals and society. Will OxyContin be overhauled and then safely introduced to the public or will Purdue Pharma use its conflicts of interest to avoid accountability?
While the episode begins in 1962 with Arthur Sackler testifying before Congress, the show quickly comes back to 2001 where Diane Mallum is walking through a homeless alley looking for her daughter Betsy. Diane finds Betsy in dire straits in a drug-induced state in a heroin den on the verge of death. Dr. Finnix is in therapy having left his treatment. While discussing his failures, the therapist recommends that he moves on from what he has done, journal about something positive and not focus on the negatives of his addiction and try to find something positive in his recovery period. The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma are having a record few years of the success of OxyContin. While the family is touting their wealth with a new endowment to a museum, Richard Sackler is wondering about the trials for the children’s version of OxyContin. Success has finally caught up with Purdue Pharma in more ways than one. At an executive meeting, Purdue Pharma learns that the FDA is reviewing the label for OxyContin and may apply a black box label to the drug to show that it is highly addictive and patients should be cautious when prescribed.
Flashforward to 2006, Assistant US Attorneys Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer are looking at how they can strengthen their Department of Justice legal case against Purdue Pharma. Both Rick and Randy want the executives to feel some pain for their part in the OxyContin epidemic. Randy learns by questioning an FDA official that Purdue Pharma received help from a former FDA official to get the drug approved. That official was rewarded with a coveted job at Purdue Pharma with a handsome salary to boot. Elsewhere, the Mallum’s are looking for answers to overcoming Betsy’s OxyContin, and now Heroin addiction. Diane convinces Betsy to attend a local activist meeting where a petition to reformat OxyContin is going to be signed which will be presented to Purdue Pharma on behalf of the people. Dr. Finnix continues to attend the methadone clinic once a week trying to stave off a relapse of his recovery after treatment. His desire to help is evident while he is in the waiting room, Dr. Finnix helps another patient through their withdrawal from OxyContin and the fear and pressure along with it. Dr. Finnix is born to help others, and now that he is coming out of his own OxyContin addiction, he starts to feel like there’s a chance he could get his old life back.
Simultaneously, Billy is in the middle of a training scenario at Purdue Pharma when he learns that his girlfriend Amber has been promoted to head up sales in New Orleans. She wants Billy to come with her, which has Billy wondering about the seriousness of their relationship and if he would be willing to make such a move with Amber. Dr. Finnix knows that he must get off methadone if he hopes to get his medical license back and that this will require controlling his urge and being a practicing recovered addict. To accommodate this state requirement, Dr. Finnix begins treatment with Dr. Van Zee which if successful could help him kick his addiction to OxyContin for the future of his health and career. Rick Mountcastle is at home pouring over documents from Purdue Pharma in the basement when his wife implores him to stop for the night. Rick is not about to stop now. He and Randy Ramseyer are shoring up their case against Purdue Pharma. They have evidence of Purdue Pharma executives lying to Congress, and proof that they knew of OxyContin abuse prior to their congressional testimony. Things are looking bleak for Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.
Back in 2001, the FDA is about to act on OxyContin. They make a label change for the infamous drug with an added Black Box Warning, which could lead to a decline in sales for Purdue Pharma and loss of the profit incentive from OxyContin. Dr. Finnix is feeling better than he ever has since addressing his addiction to OxyContin. Calling Betsy Mallum, Dr. Finnix explains the new treatment that he is undergoing and offers to drive and pay for the treatment for Betsy. Despite disapproval from her priest, Betsy wants to try the new treatment. Her mother Diane approves and goes a step further to reconcile with her daughter. Diane apologizes for how she treated Betsy when she came out. All Diane wants is for her daughter to be happy and healthy. Finally, accountability for Purdue Pharma, sort of. While the FDA has ordered black box labeling for OxyContin, they will allow Purdue Pharma to say that doctors can prescribe the drug for an extended period for patient use. While Richard Sackler and the other Purdue Pharma executives are celebrating this win, Billy is skeptical about the new label warning on the OxyContin he helped to spread and addict Americans across the nation. Billy has grown disillusioned with Purdue Pharma and the ‘facts’ they use to support prescribing of OxyContin to patients across the country. Taking an unusual step, Billy steals multiple sales videos from his manager’s office and leaves. Meanwhile, over at the DEA, Agent Bridget Meyer is about to see a resolution to her years-long and marriage-ending investigation of Purdue Pharma and OxyContin. Despite ample proof that OxyContin is dangerous, the FDA sides with Purdue Pharma and doesn’t see the dangers that Meyer and her team have uncovered. Years of investigative work are now over for Agent Bridget Meyer. US Attorney John Brownlee is geared up to indict officials from Purdue Pharma. The work that Assistant United States Attorneys Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer have done is more than enough to convince Brownlee to indict, and despite little to no support from the main Justice Department, Brownlee is adamant that justice must be done.
Elsewhere at the Mallum home, Betsy Mallum is hopeful about a second act in life. She reaches out to her former girlfriend Grace to try and make right the past. Explaining that she is going to get clean, and wondering about a possible restart to their relationship, Grace unintentionally ends the joy for Betsy. Grace has moved on, and this sets Betsy off in a dangerous spiral. Seeking escape, Betsy falls back into the drug world, getting high and drifting off on a dirty mattress in a lonely room of a heroin den. There is no coming back for Betsy. A police officer arrives at the Mallum home the next day to inform Diane that Betsy has died. At the same time, Dr. Finnix is waiting for Betsy to arrive for her first treatment with Dr. Van Zee. Calling the Mallum home, Dr. Finnix is crushed to learn that she has overdosed on heroin and died.
The episode delves into the lives of other individuals affected by the opioid crisis, including patients struggling with addiction, families coping with loss, and healthcare professionals grappling with the ethical implications of their prescribing practices. Their stories underline the urgency of comprehensive education, empathetic healthcare, and access to evidence-based treatment. “Black Box Warning” delves into the profound impact of opioids on individuals and society. It explores the medical community’s responsibility, the resilience of those affected by addiction, and the determination of individuals like Dr. Finnix, Assistant US Attorneys Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer, and Agent Bridget Meyer to effect change. The episode seeks to shed light on the critical importance of comprehensive warnings and regulations to prevent further tragedy and promote responsible prescribing practices.
EPISODE TITLE: “The People vs. Purdue Pharma”
DIRECTOR: Danny Strong
WRITTEN BY: Danny Strong
AIRDATE: November 17, 2021
In the gripping eighth and final episode of Dopesick, titled “The People vs. Purdue Pharma,” the battle for justice reaches its climax as Purdue Pharma faces unprecedented scrutiny and legal repercussions. This episode highlights the resilience of those affected by the opioid crisis and the collective efforts to hold accountable those responsible for perpetuating the epidemic. The episode opens and it’s 2019 and people are angry at Purdue Pharma. At a museum display that the Sackler family are benefactors too, protestors storm the Guggenheim Museum and protest the Sacklers and their role in the creation of OxyContin.
Flashback to 2002, Dr. Finnix is feeling positive about his future. He believes he may have beaten his addiction to OxyContin. A chance meeting with a former patient Elizabeth (Alayna Hester) gives Dr. Finnix an idea. Taking her to lunch, Dr. Finnix explains his treatment and how he thinks it might help Elizabeth. Feeling regretful about Betsy, Dr. Finnix pushes Elizabeth to let him help her by paying for the treatment and driving her each week to treatment. Elizabeth agrees. At Purdue Pharma, Amber is getting ready for her move to New Orleans, but Billy has been keeping something from her. When she inquires why Billy hasn’t put in for his transfer, things are looking hopeful for the young sales representative‘s relationship. Until Billy is called into the sale’s manager‘s office and accused of stealing training tapes (which he did). Billy denies the crime but is fired by Purdue Pharma anyway.
Flash forward to 2006, Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer have met with United States Attorney John Brownlee over the status of their legal case against Purdue Pharma. Settlement talks are floated with Purdue Pharma offering a few million, which Brownlee counters with a substantial billion-dollar settlement counter. The case continues. Simultaneously, Dr. Finnix returns home for the first time in many years. He meets with Diane and Jerry Mallum where he spends his time trying to express his sorrow over the loss of their daughter Betsy, Dr. Finnix offers his condolences, and his apology. Before leaving, Jerry tells Dr. Finnix to go and live his life. Elizabeth is looking good since she took up Dr. Finnix on his offer, and now between her and Dr. Finnix, another former patient has joined them on their journey to rehab, and hopefully, a brighter future recovered from OxyContin. Rick and Randy’s determination to succeed brings them to former Purdue Pharma sales representative, Billy. Now in law school, they confront him with the information that they believe he stole some training tapes from Purdue Pharma. Denying the accusation, Billy states that if he had taken the tapes they were long ago destroyed. Rick and Randy leave disappointed but encourage Billy to contact them should the tape’s surface.
Flashback to 2002, The movement against OxyContin is growing, and a small grassroots protest has caught the attention of Purdue Pharma and Richard Sackler. Wanting to avoid publicity, representatives from Purdue Pharma meet with the group and offer them money. The idea is appealing to many of the group until a prominent member of the group named Sister Beth, tells them that Purdue Pharma is offering them blood money. The group wisely turns down the offer. The weight of one’s conscience is too much for Billy. The Purdue Pharma training tapes arrive at Rick and Randy’s office. Armed with inside knowledge the case proceeds against three prominent Purdue Pharma executives. The case is airtight, and Purdue Pharma wants to cut a deal. The executives want to plea to misdemeanors and the company will pay out six hundred million in damages. Asked to delay by the main justice, Brownlee is adamant that the deal is signed, or they will go to court. Even a potential leak of Brownlee being fired as a US Attorney won’t stop the case. While Rick is deflated by the lack of criminal charges and the ability to pursue the Sackler family, he accepts the plea deal. Victims of OxyContin are outraged. A protest at the court won’t sway the judge. In his ruling, the judge empathizes with the protestors and the victims, but his job is to execute the law, and the plea deal is legal. With the legal case over, Assistant US Attorneys Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer can relax for a moment, and wonder about what might have happened if they had gone to court. Meanwhile, DEA agent Bridget Meyer stops by to celebrate with the two prosecutors. While Rick and Randy wonder what their case’s outcome will mean in the long run, Bridget reminds them that they have struck the first successful blow against Purdue Pharma. They celebrate the idea of fighting the battles even if they don’t win the war.
Flash forward to 2019, the fallout of the opioid epidemic has finally caught up with the Sackler family. Endowments to schools and museums which were donated by the Sacklers are being returned. No one wants any connection with the Sackler family. Lawsuits against Purdue Pharma continue in twenty-five different states. Real-time news feeds inform us that no Sackler family member has felt any pinch from all the court cases. Purdue Pharma may be in bankruptcy, but the Sacklers are far from poor. Simultaneously, At his new clinic, the Mountain Ridge Wellness Center, Dr. Finnix has continued his journey, and now leads group therapy sessions for addicts. Dr. Finnix has experienced so much, and as he continues the group discussion, he talks about how sometimes something good can come out of something bad.
“The People vs. Purdue Pharma” delves into the monumental trial that seeks to bring justice to the countless lives affected by the opioid epidemic. It explores the resilience of survivors, the dedication of law enforcement and legal professionals, and the collective determination to hold accountable those responsible. The episode aims to shed light on the critical need for transparency, regulation, and systemic change to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Dopesick is worth the watch with its riveting and heartbreaking account of the lives affected and the responsibility of Purdue Pharma in the Opioid epidemic with its drug, OxyContin. The limited series does a great job of adapting the book by Beth Macy and showing television viewers the ongoing struggle against the opioid crisis and epidemic. The performances by Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever are especially noteworthy amongst a great cast of characters in this Hulu original nominated for 14 Primetime Emmy Awards.
You can watch the full limited series on Hulu now with a paid subscription to the streaming service.
