Dopesick

I have recently been captivated by the Hulu series Dopesick which is based on the bestselling book, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy. The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America's struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Purdue Pharma to a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA. It is a grim and compelling picture of the opioid epidemic, which has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans over the past two decades. I have seen the impact of the epidemic firsthand through my friends and family.

What struck a chord for me is how Purdue’s toxic and ego-centric leadership was able to manipulate so many people into orchestrating the systemic poisoning of pain sufferers. When you are driven by greed, you will do whatever you can to get what you want, including lying, cheating, and stealing.

Coming from the biotech industry, I am happy to say that I have seen another way to develop and market medicines. You can lead the way with ethics and transparency to make a positive impact on patients’ lives. When you put the patient at the center of what you do, impact and profits follow.

Check it out here.