Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic

I did see the series on Netflix about the opioid issue in out country and this book was a good, informative read. I was horrified what doctors were doing and what Predue Pharma did to people who took these drugs and how they got hooked and died taking them. YES, I had a doc or two tell me they were great, non addictive and safe...I did not drink the cool-aid. Any time a doctor pushes a lot about a drug or a new drug I see through that because they get a large cut from the pharmaceutical company. I am onto these doctors who are not looking out for MY best interests. In fact one doc I saw was busted by the DEA and was investigated. They had to shut their practice down for several years, but they are back at seeing patients again, disgusting. I am very allergic to them, frankly, do not like the high feeling they provide. The drug was originally for a patient with terminal cancer or end of life care, not general folks out there dealing with pain. It is sad because this drug killed so many people of all ages, broke up families and bankrupted many of them as well. It is still being prescribed but there extra strict precautions, warning and rules to follow now, thankfully.

As a public health professional, I have been a part of several initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic. However, I was too young to remember (or understand for that matter) the controversy surrounding Purdue Pharma and OxyContin. This book is a good place to start for anyone wanting to learn more about this topic. However, keep in mind that the book really only discusses 2 types of opioids, MS Contin and OxyContin and the marketing strategies that were used to promote them. If you’re wanting to learn more about other types of opioids that are in the media today, or you know someone affected by these drugs this book may not be for you. The book delves into real stories of addiction so it’s something to consider before diving head first into the book.

The book was very informative about what going on today and how we got where we are today

This book is about the people who make Oxycodne

Excellent!!! A+++++

I enjoyed Barry Meier reporting and the look back at how OxyContin became a known epidemic of abuse . I do wish however there was more in depth discussion and coverage of the Sackler Family and the internal machinations of Purdue pharma.

I watched the Netflix series on this issue. I was quite surprised by the differences in the two stories. Difference in telling of the story. Same conclusions but different emphasis.

Looks brand new , appreciate that

The US Hillbilly Heroin problem was starting to make the news in the UK in the early noughties, but it took nearly a decade for Purdue Pharma to admit to wrongdoing. This scandalous story of a company peddling addictive products in pursuit of profit is well-told by investigative journalist Barry Meier.

Das Buch ist historisch detailliert in seinem Bericht über die US-amerikanische Drogenepeidemie und die einzige Firma und Familie, die für einen Großteil davon verantwortlich ist. Obwohl einige Gründe angeführt werden, lässt sich nicht erklären, warum das Drogenproblem ständig auf die heutigen epischen Ausmaße angewachsen ist. Ich hätte mir auch mehr mögliche Lösungen für dieses Problem gewünscht.

There are 2 other books, "Dopesick," and, "American Overdose," which are more detailed and very personal, where they talk to familys and friends of people no longer alive because of this crisis. That makes the feeling of the lack of accountability very hard to take. The injustice of it all, that the drug companies are not held accountable for the carnage they have caused.Barry Meier's book is equally as important because if you a require 192 page summary of the crisis with all the; characters, companies, reasons, causes, lack or response, lack of accountability and you only want to read 1 book. Then this is the one. If this read makes you interested in the subject then the other 2 that i have mentioned provide a level of detail as they are very specific to the epicentre of the epidemic in West Virginia with real people and a better understanding of the causes.I learned a new word reading these books, "iatrogenic," Which means, "illness caused by medical examination or treatment." Where you can go to the doctor with a pain and they give you such strong opioids to cure that pain, that when you follow the recommended treatment, you can become addicted. That is whats so wrong, normal people, go to the doctor for treatment after a sports injury, fall, car crash etc can take pain killers and become addicted to them.Shame on you Purdue Pharma and the Agencies that allowed it to happen, because money talks.