Meet the Sackler family, the most hated family in USA (beginner)

Supreme Court Listens to Case About Opioid Problem: Justice Kagen Talks About What Victims Think of the Sackler Family

At the Supreme Court, Justice Kagen explained how people hurt by the opioid problem feel. She said, "It's overwhelming, the support for this deal, and among people who have no love for the Sacklers, among people who think that the Sacklers are pretty much the worst people on earth, they've negotiated a deal which they think is the best that they can get."

The Sackler family is famous for being generous and for being connected to Purdue Pharma, a company that made OxyContin, a strong pain medicine. But some people say Purdue Pharma was bad because they say the company tricked people into using OxyContin and that made the opioid problem worse in the United States.

Who is Richard Sackler?

Richard Sackler is part of the Sackler family and used to work for Purdue Pharma as president. He urged employees to sell OxyContin by telling doctors that patients will not become addictive. People are outraged at him and Purdue Pharma because they think they made lots of people sick with OxyContin.

What Happened With OxyContin?

• In 1995, Purdue Pharma started selling OxyContin as a pain medicine.

• In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many people started having problems with OxyContin.

• In 2001, the FDA told Purdue Pharma they were being tricky with how they sold OxyContin.

• In 2007, Purdue Pharma and their bosses got in trouble for misleading people and had to pay lots of money.

• In 2010, Purdue Pharma made OxyContin harder to use so people couldn't get high from it.

• In 2019, Purdue Pharma had to say they had no money left and ask to not have to pay back all the money they owe.

• From 2020 to 2022, Purdue Pharma talked with people about how much money they had to pay and changed into something new.

What's Happening Now?

In December 2023, the Supreme Court talked about a case called "Harrington v Purdue Pharma." But the Supreme Court hasn't said what they think yet. Richard Sackler is 79 years old and lives in Florida. What happens with him is connected to what happens with Purdue Pharma.

People in the country are still dealing with the problems caused by OxyContin and are watching to see what will happen with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma.