From DW Documentary.

The United States has a huge drug problem. Opioids have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. While headlines often blame illegal drug trafficking by Latin American cartels, the crisis actually began 30 years ago, quite legally, in the United States.

The Sackler family, former owners of Purdue Pharma, brought the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin onto the market, unleashing one of the greatest health disasters in US history. Using hundreds of sales reps, they pressured doctors in poorer areas to prescribe the drug. This is considered the first wave of the US opioid crisis.

In 2025, the Sackler family reached a deal to pay $7.4 billion over 15 years and give up all control of the company. They are also barred from selling opioids in the United States. The Sackler family has continued to deny any wrongdoing.

Watch the documentary “Opioid crisis in the US – Parts 1 & 2” on our channel.

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