As a physician who trained in rural Tennessee and North Carolina I have taken care of hundred of opioid addicts; it is impossible to put into words the devastation opioids have taken in these communities and throughout the globe. Yet, somehow Patrick Radden Keefe manages to bring the root of that suffering to light. In Empire of Pain, we learn the origins of not only the opioid epidemic but also the origins of the Sackler Family their philanthropy, their marketing agencies and their pharmaceutical company Purdue. Keefe gives us the story of three brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond with humble beginnings who go onto to create a pharmacy and philanthropy empire. From the Great Depression and supporting his brothers to the beginning of marketing pharmaceuticals directly to doctors with Valium and Betadine, Arthur Sackler built wealth and power for himself and his brothers. They used this wealth to become huge collectors of art and philanthropic champions, donating to art galleries and medical schools.
The second part of the book dives into the second generation of Sacklers and their efforts to bring OxyC*ntin to market. The third part of the book focuses on the aggressive marketing of opioids, the cover-ups of rising rates of addiction and the millions spent on encouraging excessive prescribing. Since 1998 opioids have killed over 800,000 Americans, yet much of the philanthropic legacy of the Sacklers continued to bear their names as late as 2019.
If you never read a nonfiction, this would be a great place to start with true crime and family drama to get you hooked. Keefe’s writing is fresh, engaging and keeps you enthralled until the end. The audio read by the author himself is well done and enthralling.This book is a must read for medical professional and lay persons alike.
