The Sackler Family: An Empire of Misery and a Legacy of Opioids.
The Sackler family, once revered for its wealth and philanthropic endeavours, is now infamous for its central role in one of the most devastating public health crises in modern history—the opioid epidemic. The family, primarily through their ownership of Purdue Pharma, is at the heart of a crisis that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the United States. Purdue’s most infamous product, OxyContin, a highly addictive opioid painkiller, is at the epicentre of this tragedy, which continues to unfold even as the Sacklers face mounting legal action and public outrage.
Arthur M. Sackler
The $7.4 Billion Settlement: A Major Step in the Battle Against the Opioid Epidemic
In a landmark legal development this week, the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma reached a $7.4 billion settlement with 15 U.S. states, announced by New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement on Thursday. This settlement follows years of intense litigation and investigation into Purdue Pharma’s role in the opioid crisis. It marks the largest settlement of its kind, involving parties deemed responsible for fuelling the epidemic.
The settlement stipulates that the Sackler family will no longer be involved in the sale or distribution of opioids in the United States and will relinquish control over Purdue Pharma. The deal follows a pivotal ruling in June 2024, when the Supreme Court struck down a previous agreement that would have granted the Sacklers immunity from future lawsuits. This revised settlement ensures the family will face continued legal exposure, despite their financial contribution.
The Sacklers will pay the majority of the settlement—$6.5 billion—over 15 years, with Purdue Pharma contributing nearly $900 million upfront. The funds will be allocated to opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programmes, aiming to address the extensive harm caused by OxyContin and other opioid-related drugs. Notably, over half of the funds will be directed towards initiatives in the early years of the settlement, ensuring that immediate action can be taken to mitigate the ongoing damage.
The Rise of Purdue Pharma and OxyContin
The Sackler family's involvement in the pharmaceutical industry began in the mid-20th century. Three brothers—Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler—were the driving force behind Purdue Pharma. They initially bought Purdue-Frederick in 1952, with Arthur using his background in medical advertising to drive aggressive sales tactics. Under their leadership, Purdue shifted its focus from producing ear wax remover to creating and marketing drugs, including opioids.
In the 1980s, Purdue Pharma developed MS Contin, a sustained-release form of morphine, which proved to be highly lucrative. However, it was the release of OxyContin in 1995 that would cement Purdue Pharma’s place in history and usher in an era of devastation. The drug, based on oxycodone, a synthetic opioid derived from heroin, was marketed as less addictive due to its controlled-release formula. Despite evidence to the contrary, Purdue downplayed the drug’s addictive potential and aggressively marketed it to doctors and patients alike.
From the outset, Purdue Pharma's marketing tactics were deeply deceptive. The company claimed that OxyContin could provide long-lasting pain relief for up to 12 hours, a promise that was later disproven. Additionally, Purdue pushed OxyContin for widespread use, beyond its intended purpose for severe cancer pain, contributing to its rampant misuse. Sales representatives were incentivised with bonuses for persuading doctors to prescribe the drug, resulting in millions of prescriptions.
Despite early signs of widespread addiction and misuse, Purdue continued to market the drug aggressively. By the time the company’s marketing practices were scrutinised in the early 2000s, OxyContin had contributed to a sharp increase in opioid addiction, overdose deaths, and societal harm across the country.
The Toll of OxyContin and the Opioid Crisis
The impact of OxyContin on public health has been catastrophic. Purdue Pharma made billions of dollars from the drug, and by 2007, when the company pleaded guilty to federal charges related to misleading doctors about the drug’s addictive properties, it was clear that the epidemic was spiralling out of control. But the Sacklers were not done. Between 2008 and 2018, family members extracted almost $11 billion from Purdue, siphoning off profits while the company faced mounting lawsuits.
While Purdue Pharma continued to push OxyContin in the U.S., the Sackler family pivoted to international markets. Through their multinational company Mundipharma, they continued to promote the drug abroad, despite growing evidence of its dangerous impact.
In 2019, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in a bid to resolve the tens of thousands of lawsuits filed against it. However, the company’s bankruptcy settlement was controversial and ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court in 2024. The ruling made it clear that the Sacklers could not use bankruptcy protections to evade liability for the opioid crisis, forcing them to face additional legal challenges.
The Sackler Family’s Legacy: Philanthropy and Controversy
Despite their infamy in the opioid epidemic, the Sackler family has long been known for its extensive philanthropy, particularly in the realms of arts, culture, and education. The family’s name graced buildings and galleries in prestigious institutions such as Yale University, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery in London, and the Louvre Museum. However, in the face of public outrage over their role in the opioid crisis, many institutions have since removed the Sackler name from their buildings.
Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty (2021), described the family’s charitable giving as "reputation laundering." Despite donating millions to high-profile institutions, the Sacklers have never directed any funds toward addiction treatment or recovery efforts, an omission that has drawn significant criticism, particularly in light of the damage caused by OxyContin.
What’s Next for the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma?
The $7.4 billion settlement represents a significant financial step towards addressing the opioid epidemic, but many believe it is only one part of the larger picture. While the Sacklers have agreed to pay substantial sums, they have not acknowledged their role in the crisis in a public or legal sense. Furthermore, with thousands of lawsuits still pending, further settlements may be on the horizon.
The family’s wealth remains largely intact, despite the legal and public relations battles. Even as they pay billions in compensation, their empire continues to cast a long shadow over the opioid epidemic. Many victims and advocates argue that more needs to be done to hold the Sacklers accountable for the lives lost and the pain caused by their actions.
The Continuing Legacy of the Sackler Family’s Empire
The Sackler family’s empire, built on the backs of addictive painkillers, continues to reverberate through American society, leaving a legacy of destruction. Despite the record $7.4 billion settlement, the Sacklers’ financial influence and their role in the opioid crisis remain sources of immense public and legal scrutiny.
As the legal battles unfold and more settlements are likely in the future, the question remains: will the Sacklers ever truly be held accountable for their actions, and how will their legacy be remembered in the years to come? The answer may lie in the continued fight against the opioid epidemic and the push for justice for the countless lives destroyed by Purdue Pharma’s actions.
The Sacklers may have won some battles in the courtroom, but the war to heal the wounds they inflicted on society is far from over.
