Understanding Richard Sackler’s Central Role in America’s Opioid Crisis
Richard Sackler stands as one of the most controversial figures in modern American pharmaceutical history. As the former president and co-chairman of Purdue Pharma, Sackler played a pivotal role in developing and aggressively marketing OxyContin, a decision that would ultimately contribute to a devastating opioid epidemic.
Key Facts About Richard Sackler:
- Born: March 10, 1945
- Education: Columbia College (BA), NYU School of Medicine (MD)
- Career: Joined Purdue Pharma in 1971, became president in 1999, co-chairman in 2003
- Net Worth: Estimated $1 billion (family worth $10.8 billion as of 2024)
- Current Status: Lives in Boca Raton, Florida; faces ongoing legal challenges
- Key Role: Oversaw OxyContin development and marketing strategies that downplayed addiction risks
The Sackler family’s pharmaceutical empire, built from their New York roots, generated billions while an estimated 500,000 Americans died from opioid-related overdoses since the mid-1990s. Richard Sackler’s internal emails revealed his push for aggressive marketing tactics, including the infamous directive to “measure our performance by Rx’s by strength, giving higher measures to higher strengths.”
Despite facing numerous lawsuits and a $7.4 billion settlement in 2024, Sackler testified in federal bankruptcy court that he believes neither his family nor Purdue Pharma bear “any responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States.” This stance has only intensified public scrutiny and legal challenges, including Utah’s recent decision to resume administrative action against him personally.
I’m R. Couri Hay, and having covered New York’s elite circles for over four decades, I’ve witnessed how the Richard Sackler story has unfolded from philanthropic prominence to public pariah status across the city’s cultural institutions. My experience in crisis management and reputation counseling provides unique insight into one of the most dramatic falls from grace in modern American business.
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The Making of a Pharma Magnate: Sackler’s Origins and Rise
To truly understand the complex figure of Richard Sackler, we must first dig into his background, education, and the family legacy that shaped his career. Born on March 10, 1945, Richard Sackler was not just born into wealth, but into a family deeply entrenched in the pharmaceutical industry. His journey from a student right here in New York to a central figure in a global health crisis is a tale of ambition, innovation, and ultimately, profound controversy. It’s quite a story, and one that resonates deeply with our understanding of influence and accountability in the city.
From New York Student to Purdue President
Our story begins in New York, where Richard Sackler pursued a rigorous academic path. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Columbia College, a prestigious institution right here in New York City. Furthering his medical aspirations, he then earned his MD degree from the New York University School of Medicine. It was this dual foundation in liberal arts and medicine that seemingly prepared him for a career at the intersection of science and business.
His entry into Purdue Pharma in 1971 marked the beginning of a long and influential tenure. He started as an assistant to his father, Raymond Sackler, who was then president of the company. This familial connection provided him with an intimate understanding of the company’s operations and strategic vision from day one. Richard Sackler’s ascent within Purdue Pharma was steady and significant. He became president of Purdue Pharma in 1999, a pivotal time just a few years after the launch of OxyContin. By 2003, he was made co-chairman of the board, solidifying his executive leadership.
The Sackler family’s involvement in the pharmaceutical industry, and indeed their wealth, has deep roots. It all started with three brothers—Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler—who were physicians and philanthropists. While Arthur died before OxyContin was invented, his pioneering work in medical advertising laid a controversial blueprint for the family’s future marketing strategies. Mortimer and Raymond, Richard Sackler’s father, were instrumental in acquiring Purdue Pharma in 1952. This history, largely played out from their base right here in New York, set the stage for the family’s incredible financial success, but also for the immense scrutiny they would later face.
A Legacy of Philanthropy and Controversy
For decades, the Sackler name was synonymous with philanthropy, particularly within the arts and sciences. Their generosity extended to numerous institutions across the globe, with a significant presence right here in New York City. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and many university programs benefited from their substantial donations. We saw their name adorning wings, galleries, and research centers, reflecting a carefully cultivated image of benevolent patrons of culture and knowledge.
However, as the scale of the opioid crisis became undeniable and Purdue Pharma’s role in it increasingly scrutinized, the public perception of the Sacklers shifted dramatically. What was once seen as generous giving began to be viewed by many as “reputation laundering”—an attempt to sanitize profits derived from the suffering caused by OxyContin. Activists, led by figures like artist Nan Goldin, who herself battled opioid addiction, began to protest these donations, demanding that institutions distance themselves from the family.
The response from New York’s cultural community and beyond was swift and significant. Many institutions, facing immense public pressure, chose to sever ties with the Sackler family and remove their name from their buildings and programs. This decision was a powerful statement, reflecting a broader societal reckoning with corporate responsibility and ethical philanthropy. You saw institutions like the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate art galleries in the UK, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Oxford University in the UK, the British Museum in London, and NYU Langone Medical Center in New York all making this impactful choice.
We believe this moment marked a turning point, where the pursuit of financial gain at the expense of public health could no longer be masked by philanthropic gestures. For organizations in New York, this saga has underscored the critical importance of robust crisis management and public relations strategies, especially when dealing with ethically charged issues.
The Architect of an Epidemic: Richard Sackler and OxyContin
The heart of the controversy surrounding Richard Sackler lies in his direct involvement with OxyContin. While Purdue Pharma had existed for decades, it was the development and aggressive marketing of this particular painkiller that catapulted the company, and the Sackler family, into unprecedented wealth and notoriety.
Aggressive Marketing and Deceptive Claims
Richard Sackler was deeply immersed in the strategy behind OxyContin. He oversaw the research department that developed the drug and managed the sales and marketing unit. Under his leadership, Purdue Pharma implemented marketing strategies that have since been widely condemned as deceptive and reckless.
One of the most damning pieces of evidence against Richard Sackler came from his own words. In 2008, he told company officials to “measure our performance by Rx’s by strength, giving higher measures to higher strengths.” This directive, revealed during legal proceedings, strongly suggests a focus on increasing the volume and potency of prescriptions, rather than prioritizing patient safety. This was not a subtle nudge; it was a clear instruction to push for higher doses, which research now overwhelmingly shows increases the risk of addiction and overdose.
Allegations against Purdue Pharma and Richard Sackler include misleading doctors about the drug’s addictive potential. They are accused of pushing a narrative that addiction was rare and that OxyContin was less prone to abuse than other painkillers, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Internal communications, later unsealed, revealed strategies to blame “abusers” rather than acknowledge the drug’s inherent risks. Richard Sackler himself reportedly sent an email stating, “We have to hammer on the abusers in every way possible. They are the culprits and the problem. They are the reckless criminals.” This approach, designed to deflect responsibility, fueled a stigma against those struggling with addiction while the company continued to profit.
Purdue Pharma also employed a vast network of sales representatives, using aggressive tactics to push OxyContin to prescribers. In Utah alone, the company employed 186 sales representatives and made direct marketing visits to 5,000 prescribers. The Utah Division of Consumer Protection alleges that Purdue Pharma and Richard Sackler provided $200,000 in gifts and payments to Utah prescribers between 2013 and 2017, incentivizing them to prescribe more. This kind of targeted marketing, coupled with the deceptive claims about the drug’s safety, created a fertile ground for the opioid crisis to take root and flourish.
For organizations, especially those in healthcare or pharmaceuticals, the Purdue Pharma story serves as a stark reminder of the ethical tightrope walked in business. In New York, as in other major metropolitan areas, effective crisis management and transparent public relations are not just good practice, but a moral imperative.
The Impact on American and New York Communities
The consequences of these aggressive marketing tactics and deceptive claims have been catastrophic. The opioid crisis, fueled in large part by the widespread prescription of OxyContin, has ravaged communities across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), from 1999 to 2019, nearly 500,000 people died from an overdose involving any opioid, including prescription and illicit opioids. This staggering figure continues to rise, with nearly 100,000 annual opioid deaths in the U.S.
The human toll is immeasurable. Families have been torn apart, lives have been shattered, and healthcare systems have been overwhelmed. What began as a prescription for pain often spiraled into addiction, leading many to illicit drugs when prescriptions became harder to obtain. This devastating cycle has left a profound mark on the fabric of American society.
Here in New York City, we have seen the tragic effects of the opioid crisis. Our hospitals, emergency services, and community organizations have been on the front lines, struggling with the profound societal impacts. The crisis has placed immense strain on public health resources, requiring significant investment in treatment, prevention, and harm reduction programs. The deceptive practices employed by Purdue Pharma and Richard Sackler have had a direct and devastating effect on our communities, costing thousands of New Yorkers their lives and well-being. The ongoing fight for justice is a testament to the resilience of our communities in the face of such profound tragedy.
The Legal Reckoning and Public Fallout
The devastating human cost of the opioid crisis couldn’t stay hidden forever. As families across America buried loved ones and communities watched their neighbors spiral into addiction, the calls for justice grew louder. Richard Sackler and Purdue Pharma suddenly found themselves at the center of what would become one of the largest corporate accountability battles in modern history.
Legal Actions and Accountability
The lawsuits came fast and furious. States, counties, cities, and Native American tribes across the country filed suit against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. Each case painted a similar picture: a company that put profits over people, using deceptive marketing to fuel an epidemic that would claim hundreds of thousands of lives.
Massachusetts fired one of the early shots in 2018, directly targeting Richard Sackler and other executives. The state alleged they had deliberately misled doctors and patients about OxyContin’s dangers. It was a bold move that set the tone for what was to come.
But perhaps no action has been as pointed as Utah’s recent decision to resume its fight against Richard Sackler personally. In September 2024, Utah’s Division of Consumer Protection announced they were picking up where they left off in 2019, before Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy filing put things on hold. Their message was crystal clear: Richard Sackler “can no longer hide behind the company name or its bankruptcy filings as he continues to live lavishly from profits of deceptive claims and practices.”
Utah’s case is particularly damning. They allege that Purdue Pharma deployed 186 sales representatives in Utah alone, making direct marketing visits to 5,000 prescribers. Between 2013 and 2017, the company allegedly provided $200,000 in gifts and payments to Utah doctors—essentially paying them to prescribe more OxyContin.
Here in New York, we’ve seen our own legal battles unfold. Attorney General Letitia James has been relentless in pursuing accountability, securing significant settlements that have provided crucial funding for addiction treatment and prevention programs across our state. These actions have been particularly meaningful for New York City communities, where the opioid crisis has touched countless families and strained our healthcare system.
The federal government got involved too. Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to criminal charges in 2020, admitting to paying kickbacks to healthcare professionals to boost OxyContin prescriptions. It was a stunning admission from a company that had spent decades denying wrongdoing.
The Supreme Court Decision and Sackler’s Testimony
When Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in 2019, many saw it as the Sackler family’s ultimate escape hatch. The proposed settlement seemed generous on paper—$7.4 billion total, with the Sacklers themselves contributing $6.5 billion over 15 years. But there was a catch that many found deeply troubling.
The deal included sweeping legal immunity for Sackler family members against future civil lawsuits. Essentially, they would pay a settlement and walk away with a clean slate, protected from any future accountability. For families who had lost loved ones to opioid addiction, this felt like adding insult to injury.
Thankfully, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in. In August 2023, they temporarily blocked the bankruptcy plan, with the solicitor general arguing that the proposed immunity would be “of exceptional and unprecedented breadth” and would constitute “an abuse of the bankruptcy system.” It was a rare moment when the highest court in the land seemed to side with ordinary Americans over corporate interests.
The most jaw-dropping moment came during Richard Sackler’s testimony in the federal bankruptcy proceedings in 2021. Here was a man whose internal emails showed he had pushed for higher-dose prescriptions and blamed “abusers” for the crisis his company had helped create. When asked directly if he, his family, or Purdue Pharma bore any responsibility for the opioid crisis, his answer was simple: “No.”
He said it three times, in fact. When pressed about how many people had died from using OxyContin, Richard Sackler claimed he didn’t know and suggested that data wasn’t available. This from a man who had overseen the drug’s development and marketing for decades.
Perhaps most galling of all, despite the legal battles and settlements, the Sackler family remains extraordinarily wealthy. Richard Sackler’s personal net worth is estimated at $1 billion, while the family’s collective wealth sits at $10.8 billion as of 2024. Even after paying billions in settlements, they continue to live in luxury while communities across America—including right here in New York City—are still dealing with the devastating aftermath of the opioid crisis they helped create.
As someone who has spent decades covering New York’s elite circles, I’ve seen my share of scandals and falls from grace. But the Richard Sackler story stands apart—not just for its scale, but for the human cost that continues to mount while accountability remains frustratingly elusive.
Sackler in the Spotlight: Portrayals in Popular Culture
The story of Richard Sackler and the devastating opioid crisis is so compelling and tragic that it was bound to capture the imagination of Hollywood. It’s no surprise that this pivotal chapter in American history has found its way onto our screens, bringing the intricate details of the crisis to a wider audience, including folks right here in New York City. These portrayals have played a significant role in shaping public perception and ensuring the story isn’t forgotten.
Two prominent series, in particular, have digd deep into Richard Sackler‘s story and the Purdue Pharma saga. First, there’s ‘Dopesick’ (2021), the powerful Hulu limited series. It’s based on Beth Macy’s insightful non-fiction book and features Michael Stuhlbarg portraying Richard Sackler. The show offers a fictionalized, yet incredibly well-researched, look at how the opioid crisis began. It really zeroes in on Purdue Pharma’s role and the heartbreaking impact it had on a small mining community. Stuhlbarg’s performance was chilling, showing Richard Sackler as a calculating figure, seemingly driven by ambition above all else.
Then we have ‘Painkiller’ (2023), the Netflix series. This one drew inspiration from both Patrick Radden Keefe’s compelling New Yorker article, “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain,” and Barry Meier’s book Pain Killer. In this series, Matthew Broderick took on the role of Richard Sackler. It was a different take, with the show’s executive producers even noting that Broderick brought an “incredibly nice and kind” quality to a character whose actions were, to say the least, “morally questionable.” This series explores both the origins and the aftermath of the opioid crisis, highlighting the perspectives of those who perpetuated it, those who suffered from it, and those who fought to uncover the truth.
These fictionalized retellings have done more than just entertain. They’ve educated millions about the crisis and, crucially, sparked renewed conversations about corporate accountability and the profound human cost of unchecked greed. We’ve seen these shows debated in coffee shops, discussed at dinner parties, and analyzed in media circles right across New York City. It truly shows their profound impact on the cultural conversation. They serve as powerful reminders that while the Sackler family may have tried to step away from the public eye, their actions and their immense impact remain firmly in the spotlight.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy and Ongoing Accountability
The story of Richard Sackler and Purdue Pharma is far from over. In fact, it continues to unfold right before our eyes. The opioid crisis remains a devastating public health emergency, one that sadly impacts countless individuals and communities across the United States, including our vibrant neighborhoods here in New York City. While significant legal battles have brought some accountability and exposed the inner workings of Purdue Pharma, the fight for true justice and comprehensive solutions remains a complex, ongoing journey.
The Sackler name, once associated with philanthropic grandeur and proudly displayed on institutions, is now, for many, inextricably linked to the opioid epidemic. Its legacy has been profoundly tarnished, perhaps irrevocably so. It stands as a stark, cautionary tale: a powerful reminder of how unchecked corporate ambition can tragically lead to widespread human suffering. The public outrage, the countless legal actions, and even the powerful portrayals in popular culture ensure that Richard Sackler‘s role, and that of his family, in this crisis will certainly not be forgotten.
For us here at R. Couri Hay Columns, understanding this intricate narrative is more than just a matter of news; it’s crucial. It vividly underscores the profound impact that powerful individuals and large corporations can wield over society. It also highlights the critical importance of transparency and ethical conduct in all business dealings. The entire Sackler saga serves as a potent reminder that while money can purchase many things, it simply cannot buy back lost lives or truly erase the stain of a tarnished reputation.
The pursuit of justice for the millions affected by the opioid crisis continues tirelessly. And with that, so does the demand for full accountability from all those responsible. We at R. Couri Hay Columns will continue to follow these pivotal developments closely, always striving to offer our unique commentary and insights.
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