Episode 7 of Dopesick's inaugural season stands as the pinnacle of the series, a gripping and harrowing tale that delves into the darkest corners of Purdue Pharma's moral abyss. The narrative opens with a stunning revelation set in 1962, painting a picture of the Sacklers' sordid past where they've danced with the devil, skirting ethical lines and facing the ire of the judiciary. But as history repeats, we witness the corrupting influence of money on powerful men, as Senator Dodd's once-stern scrutiny of Purdue Pharma transforms into a cozy alliance by 2002.
The year 2001 sees Betsy spiraling deeper into the clutches of addiction, her fragile state discovered by Diane amidst the sordid depths of a drug den. Betsy's whispered plea, "I wanna go home," resonates with heartbreaking poignancy as Diane rescues her from that hellish existence. This poignant scene segues seamlessly into the chilling revelation of Purdue's nefarious plan—to market OxyContin even to children, a prospect that chills the blood. Fortunately, this appalling proposal is abruptly halted by the FDA's stern language, sending shockwaves throughout the company.
As OxyContin ravages communities, flyers spring up like weeds, igniting Diane's resolve to involve Betsy in a crusade. Dr. Van Zee emerges as a champion, determined to banish OxyContin from the market, rallying residents to sign a petition in protest. Meanwhile, the FDA contemplates a Black Box warning, a mere bandage on a gaping wound. The opportunistic Sackler, undeterred, aligns with Kathy, weaving a web of deceit to circumvent the FDA's intentions. Richard's words ring with sinister cunning: they must "give a little" to sway the FDA and maintain their deadly grip on the market.
In a strategic maneuver, the Sackler family masterfully navigated the FDA's regulations, securing a label that delicately phrased addiction as a "rarely reported" occurrence, thereby paving the way for Oxy's approval for moderate pain management. This semantic shift empowered the marketing team to embark on an aggressive sales campaign, with aspirations of tripling their sales figures.
Billy Cutler, once a zealous promoter, found himself increasingly disenchanted with Oxy's shadow, particularly the ethics behind promoting a drug despite its Black Box warning. His disillusionment culminated in a daring act—breaking into his supervisor's office to seize promotional tapes, a silent protest against the relentless push for profits.
Despite being one of Purdue's top performers, Billy's conscience weighed heavily. However, Amber, the ambitious Regional Manager-in-making for Louisiana, saw only dollar signs in his sales prowess. She lured him with promises of untapped riches in a thriving market, exploiting his vulnerabilities for her own gain. Her interest in him was purely transactional, centered on his ability to sell, not his well-being.
Meanwhile, Art Van Zee returned to his clinic, where Finnix, a methadone-aided patient undergoing therapy, struggled to shake off the Oxy demons that still haunted his thoughts. Art offered a sobering reality check: full recovery from Oxy's grip could take up to two years, as the drug had reshaped his brain's chemistry.
Finnix's amazement turned to hope upon learning about Suboxone, a new drug offering a potential lifeline. Recognizing its potential, he reached out to Betsy, urging her to consider Suboxone as a path to sobriety. His apology for the pain he'd caused was met with Betsy's unwavering love, a testament to their resilience and mutual support amidst the storm.
That fateful evening, Betsy's world began to unravel as she succumbed to disillusionment with her life's path. However, within the confines of their car ride, Diane, her mother, unexpectedly broke down, casting blame upon herself for Betsy's OxyContin addiction. With raw honesty, she confessed to having overheard Betsy's confession about her sexuality that fateful night, and vowed her unwavering support. Yet, for Betsy to reclaim a semblance of normalcy and break free from addiction's chains, she must embark on the arduous journey of sobriety. This pivotal moment ignited their determination to seize upon Finnix's offer and embark on the healing process.
But fate had other plans. Betsy, driven by a mix of resolve and despair, ventured back to her dealer, determined to indulge in one final, reckless farewell before turning her back on the darkness. The subsequent injection proved to be her undoing, pushing her over the precipice of life, and she slipped away. When Finnix's call echoed through the silence, he was met with the devastating news of Betsy's passing.
In the year 2002, Bridget's crusade against Purdue and the FDA intensified, armed with autopsy reports that painted a damning portrait of addiction's grip. The evidence was overwhelming, yet Purdue's legal eagles weaved a web of sophistry, dismissing it as simplistic. Undeterred, Bridget fiercely countered, arguing for its comprehensiveness and depth. Yet, the FDA, inexplicably, sided with Purdue, turning a blind eye to the mountain of evidence, leaving Bridget reeling.
Later, as she shared her heartache with her husband, Bridget lamented that her vocation was consuming her very being. Ironically, he seemed oblivious to the truth—for to her, the job was not just a means to an end, but her life's purpose. The conversation foreshadowed a looming divorce, a testament to the toll their differing perspectives had taken on their union.
By 2006, Randy and Rick's relentless pursuit of justice had gained momentum, their sights set on imprisoning the culpable executives at Purdue's helm—Kathy, Richard, and the nefarious Sacker clan. Their investigation uncovered a sinister plot: a year prior to the approval of Purdue's revised label, the company had rented a hotel suite in Rockville, mere steps from the FDA's doorstep. There, they colluded with Curtis Wright, the man behind the new label's approval, for three days, manipulating the wording to their advantage. It emerged that Wright himself had penned the warning label, a damning revelation that exposed the depths of their deceit.
Van Zee's petition met with a dead end, accomplishing nothing but a nauseating consequence: it spurred Purdue to intensify their marketing efforts. Despite garnering a formidable 10,000 signatures, Rick struck a gold mine by opting to wield the testimonies of the executives, turning the tables. Under oath, they swore blind that they remained oblivious to the addiction crisis until 2000, a blatant lie as emails, internal documents, and other evidence pointed to their knowledge of abuse as early as 1997.
A sly smile crept across Rick's face as he realized he had a tight grip on the trio for perjury and conspiracy to defraud Congress. The real game-changer lay in the possibility of these executives turning against Richard Sackler and his ilk, ready to sacrifice others to save their own necks.
Yet, the shadows of corruption loomed large over Maine's justice system, permeating even its highest echelons. Randy and Rick, deaf to Alice's earnest pleas as a fellow attorney, marched resolutely into the meeting, announcing their intention to indict Michael Friedman, Paul Goldenheim, and Howard Udell on felony charges without hesitation.
As the episode drew to a close, Purdue Pharma's chilling pronouncement echoed through the courtroom, a defiant testament to their unwavering belief: "No law, no regulation, shall ever dampen the brilliance of modern pharmaceuticals—a true miracle of our age."
