In newly released emails, former Purdue president takes aim at opioid addicts

[Eugene]

Source: CT Mirror

In newly released emails, former Purdue president takes aim at opioid addicts

HEALTH :: by JENNA CARLESSO | MAY 7, 2019

Richard Sackler, the former president of Purdue Pharma, doubled down on blaming addicts for the opioid crisis driven in part by his company’s product, calling drug users “victimizers” and saying they are responsible for their own fate, according to emails released Tuesday by the state Attorney General’s office.

“Abusers aren’t victims; they are victimizers,” Sackler wrote to an acquaintance in 2001. The receiver of that email, who was not identified, noted in another correspondence: “Abusers die, well that is the choice they made. I doubt a single one didn’t know of the risks.”

Those previously redacted emails were made public Tuesday and are part of Attorney General William Tong’s expanded complaint against Purdue, Sackler, other members of his family and former members of Purdue’s board of directors. Portions of the state’s lawsuit were initially kept secret under a federal judge’s order. Connecticut has since obtained permission to release the records.

In an email exchange with the same acquaintance in 2001, the acquaintance wrote to Sackler: “You know what the general ignorant public will say, do away with the drug!! Blame the manufactures (sic), Drs., pharmacist, but NEVER NEVER THE CRIMINAL, HE/SHE, (to be politically correct) is never to blame. Give me a break, lest I THROW UP! The whole thing is a sham and if people die because they abuse it then good riddance.”

Sackler replied: “Unfortunately, when I’m ambushed by 60 Minutes, I can’t easily get this concept across. Calling drug addicts ‘scum of the earth’ will guarantee that I become the poster child for liberals who want to do just want (sic) to distribute the blame to someone else, as you say.”

-snip-

Read more: https://ctmirror.org/2019/05/07/in-newly-released-emails-former-purdue-president-takes-aim-at-opioid-addicts/

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Related: State of Connecticut v. Perdue Pharma (partially redacted) (Connecticut Attorney General)

[rurallib]

1. like an arsonist blaming the building for catching on fire after he torched it.

[magicarpet]

5. ... and intentionally poured fire accelerants around the ...

.... foundation of the building to really get the blaze going nice and hot.

[unblock]

2. "... lest i throw up"? interestingly, throwing up is a common side effect of the opioids he pushed.

but you know, that's just for his criminal customers....

[democratisphere]

3. Perdue Pharma and the white coat and white collar criminal MDs are the modern day pushermen

addicted to insane wealth at the expense of their patients.

[matt819]

4. You know what this sounds like?

Illegal drug dealers saying that they're just providing a product. It's the addicts' problem that they can't control their needs.

What I would like to see is the Sackler name taken off of everything they've contributed to and their money returned. I would then like to see them lose every single court case and the fines imposed equal to their profits, and then some. And then I'd like to see the CEO and other family executives convicted and sent to serve in a super max prison, like any other drug cartel chief.

[nycbos]

6. I hate to say it...

... but this is the mindset when addicts are black. The only reason the opioid crisis is a "crisis" is because white people are dying.

[Clarity2]

7. He is "the scum of the earth"

It's astounding how much contempt he has for the people who have made him rich. Fact is most people don't know that within a week you can become addicted to some opioids. Everyday people who come from all types of backgrounds have succumbed to an addiction that they never were informed could happen. It's a physiological reaction, not a mental weakness or character flaw. I have never taken pain pills because I've always been aware of this knowing a couple of people who have become addicted, but I find myself informing loved ones of how quickly this can happen, and luckily they have passed on taking these drugs or only have taken them a couple of days.

I hope karma bites him in the ass very soon.

[lapfog_1]

8. I hope he has children

because karma will make one of them or one of his grandchildren an opioid addict.

Then let him rail and spew his ignorance about how his own grandchildren are the "scum of the earth".