The Sackler Family: Legacy, Power, and the Opioid Crisis
The Sackler family, once considered among America's wealthiest and most philanthropic dynasties, is now infamous for its role in the opioid epidemic that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands. Their legacy, once celebrated for contributions to medicine, art, and culture, has been irrevocably tarnished by their ownership of Purdue Pharma and the aggressive marketing of OxyContin—a drug that has fuelled one of the deadliest public health crises in modern history.
This week, and in a long-awaited legal resolution, Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, have agreed to a $7.4 billion settlement to address thousands of lawsuits alleging their role in the opioid epidemic that has devastated communities across the United States. The legal action stems from claims that Purdue's widely prescribed painkiller, OxyContin, contributed significantly to the widespread addiction crisis, which has resulted in over 500,000 deaths in the past two decades.
This settlement comes after a lengthy and contentious battle, which saw the US Supreme Court overturn Purdue's earlier bankruptcy plan. That proposal sought to shield the Sacklers from future opioid-related lawsuits, while contributing a smaller amount—$6 billion—to resolve the claims. However, the Court ruled that the Sackler family, as non-bankrupt individuals, could not be granted the same legal protections. The newly announced settlement marks a significant step in holding the pharmaceutical giant—and its powerful family owners—accountable for their role in one of the deadliest public health crises in modern American history.
Origins of the Sackler Dynasty
The Sackler brothers, Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond, were born in the 1920s to Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York. All three siblings pursued careers in medicine, with Arthur emerging as the family's pioneering figure in pharmaceutical marketing. In the 1950s, the brothers purchased a small pharmaceutical company, Purdue-Frederick, which they later renamed Purdue Pharma. While Mortimer and Raymond managed the company's operations, Arthur, a trained psychiatrist, revolutionised medical advertising by employing aggressive marketing strategies aimed directly at doctors.
Arthur's innovative advertising methods are widely regarded as a precursor to the methods used by Purdue Pharma decades later to promote OxyContin. Arthur, who died in 1987, was also a noted philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to museums and educational institutions. However, his death marked the beginning of the Sacklers' more contentious involvement in the pharmaceutical world, a legacy that would come to define the family's name in ways no one could have foreseen.
OxyContin and the Rise of Purdue Pharma
In 1996, Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, a reformulated, slow-release version of oxycodone. Marketed as a miracle painkiller with minimal risk of addiction, the drug was initially hailed as a breakthrough in pain management. However, it soon became clear that OxyContin was highly addictive, with patients developing dependencies at alarming rates.
Purdue Pharma's aggressive marketing campaign downplayed the risks of addiction, encouraging doctors to prescribe the drug for a wide range of conditions, even for chronic, non-cancer pain. This strategy was spearheaded by the Sackler family members, particularly Richard Sackler, who was president of Purdue Pharma from 1999 to 2003 and played a direct role in the drug's promotion. The company's claims that OxyContin was "safe" and "non-addictive" were exposed as misleading and fraudulent, leading to an explosion of opioid prescriptions across the United States.
The Opioid Crisis Unleashed
The marketing tactics employed by Purdue Pharma contributed directly to the opioid epidemic that has devastated communities nationwide. By 2017, opioid overdoses were responsible for more than 47,000 deaths in the United States alone, with OxyContin being a major driver of this tragic toll. Purdue Pharma’s role in this crisis has led to numerous lawsuits from states, cities, and individuals seeking justice for the harm caused by the drug.
Despite the mounting evidence of wrongdoing, the Sackler family—through Purdue Pharma—remained steadfast in their defence of the drug. In 2007, Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to federal charges of misbranding OxyContin, paying a hefty fine of $634 million. Yet, many critics argue that the Sacklers themselves never faced the full consequences of their actions.
Legal Battles and Public Backlash
In the years following the public revelation of Purdue's role in the opioid epidemic, the Sackler family's name became synonymous with corporate greed and disregard for public health. Multiple lawsuits were filed against the family, and the public began to demand accountability for their actions.
The Sacklers attempted to distance themselves from the scandal by continuing their philanthropic efforts, but this only intensified the backlash. Prominent cultural institutions, including the Tate in London, the Louvre in Paris, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, severed ties with the family and removed the Sackler name from galleries, citing the family’s role in fuelling the opioid crisis.
In 2021, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to restructure the company. As part of the settlement, the Sackler family agreed to pay $4.5 billion over nine years, with the funds earmarked for opioid crisis relief. However, the family managed to shield itself from criminal liability, with the proposed settlement also offering them immunity from further lawsuits. This move sparked outrage among those affected by the opioid crisis, many of whom felt that the Sacklers were being allowed to escape full accountability.
The Sacklers Today: A Tarnished Legacy
As of 2024, the Sackler family’s involvement in Purdue Pharma has led to a significant re-examination of their legacy. While some family members have tried to distance themselves from the company's actions, others, such as Richard Sackler, continue to defend their role in Purdue's operations. Richard, who has largely retreated from the public eye, faced intense scrutiny during a 2020 congressional hearing, where lawmakers condemned his actions and accused him of being "addicted to money." In contrast, the second and third generations of the Sackler family, including Madeleine Sackler, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, and David Sackler, have found their reputations overshadowed by the family’s dark history.
Despite the wealth accumulated by the Sacklers from their involvement in Purdue, the family’s philanthropic legacy has been all but erased. Institutions that once proudly displayed the Sackler name are now scrubbing it from their walls, and cultural figures like photographer Nan Goldin have led campaigns to draw attention to the family’s role in the opioid crisis.
The Sacklers' Place in History
The Sackler family's involvement in the opioid epidemic has left an indelible stain on their once-sterling reputation. What began as a family of medical pioneers and philanthropists has now been overshadowed by their role in the deaths of tens of thousands of individuals affected by opioid addiction.
Although the Sacklers' wealth and influence remain formidable, their legacy is irrevocably marred by their actions at Purdue Pharma. As the opioid crisis continues to affect millions across the globe, the family's story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of corporate greed, medical malpractice, and the pursuit of profit at the expense of human lives.
The Sackler name, once synonymous with prestige and generosity, will likely be remembered for its contribution to one of the deadliest public health crises in history. Despite their attempts at reputation laundering, it seems that no amount of philanthropy can erase the damage caused by OxyContin—and the Sacklers' role in it.
