The opioid epidemic, a crisis often overshadowed yet tragically ongoing, continues to cast a long shadow over American society. With hundreds of thousands of lives lost and economic repercussions reaching trillions of dollars, the search for accountability is paramount. At the heart of this tragedy lies the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. While the crisis is multifaceted, the Sacklers’ role in fueling it is undeniable, making the quest to understand their story crucial. For anyone seeking to grasp the depths of this culpability and the intricate history behind it, Patrick Radden Keefe’s “Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty” stands as the essential Sackler Family Book.
This isn’t just another account of the opioid crisis; it’s a meticulously researched and powerfully written saga that dissects the Sackler family across generations. Keefe’s work transcends typical investigative journalism, offering a narrative that is both epic in scope and deeply personal in its character studies. From the ambitious patriarchs to the calculated strategies of Purdue Pharma, “Empire of Pain” meticulously unveils the dynasty’s ascent, their relentless pursuit of profit, and the devastating consequences of their actions. If you aim to comprehend the Sackler family’s influence and the opioid epidemic’s origins, this book is not just recommended—it’s indispensable.
“Empire of Pain” immediately establishes itself as a landmark work. Its compelling prose, masterful structure, and rigorous reporting are evident from the outset. Keefe doesn’t merely present facts; he constructs a narrative that reads with the urgency of a thriller, yet is grounded in meticulous detail. Beginning with Arthur Sackler’s birth in 1913 and extending to Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the book spans a century of American history, mirroring the rise of modern capitalism itself. Within this grand sweep, Keefe masterfully blends elements of family saga, corporate exposé, and legal drama.
While numerous books have explored aspects of the opioid crisis, “Empire of Pain” distinguishes itself through its sheer ambition and exceptional execution. Keefe acknowledges and respects prior works in the field, but his book surpasses them in depth and breadth. It’s not just about breaking news; it’s about providing a comprehensive and definitive account. For readers seeking the most authoritative Sackler family book, Keefe’s work rises above the rest.
One of the key strengths of “Empire of Pain” is its multifaceted approach. It’s not solely focused on the opioid addiction crisis itself, but rather is divided into three distinct yet interconnected parts. These sections, while individually compelling, weave together to create a holistic understanding of the Sackler dynasty and their impact.
The book’s first act is biographical, centering on Arthur Sackler and, to a lesser extent, his brothers Raymond and Mortimer. Keefe paints a vivid portrait of Arthur’s transformation from the son of a grocer to a wealthy physician, advertising magnate, and business innovator. His characterization is so rich and detailed that readers feel intimately connected to Arthur, understanding his motivations and mindset. Remarkably, Keefe achieves this depth within just over a hundred pages, showcasing his narrative skill. Even seemingly tangential chapters, like one detailing Arthur’s passion for ancient Chinese furniture, become engrossing through Keefe’s storytelling.
Arthur Sackler’s influence on pharmaceutical marketing is a crucial element of this section. He pioneered the concept of marketing prescription drugs as everyday consumer goods, a strategy that would later be weaponized with devastating effect. Despite Arthur’s central role in shaping modern pharmaceutical marketing, Keefe avoids simplistic demonization. He presents Arthur as a complex figure, a hardworking psychiatrist who, while not explicitly malevolent, laid the groundwork for the aggressive drug sales tactics that would follow. Crucially, while Arthur’s marketing blueprint was pivotal, he passed away before OxyContin’s release, making his role contextual to the immediate opioid crisis.
The middle section of “Empire of Pain” shifts focus to the rise of Purdue Pharma. This segment details the company’s evolution from Purdue Frederick, a manufacturer of over-the-counter remedies, to a pharmaceutical powerhouse. The pivotal moment was Purdue Pharma’s rebranding of MS Contin, a timed-release morphine pill initially intended for severe pain management, as a versatile drug for a wider range of pain. This paved the way for OxyContin, a much more potent opioid, which, with questionable FDA approval, was marketed as a safe and widely applicable painkiller, fueling the notion of a national “pain epidemic.”
Richard Sackler emerges as the central figure in this section. Keefe portrays him as a meticulous and intensely focused individual who recognized the immense profit potential of OxyContin and pursued it relentlessly. Richard’s micro-management and unwavering focus on maximizing OxyContin sales are vividly depicted. Keefe broadens the narrative beyond the Sacklers themselves, delving into the history of opium, the development of MS Contin and OxyContin, the Napp Technologies plant explosion (a Sackler-owned company), and the aggressive sales tactics employed by Purdue Pharma’s sales force. These tactics ultimately generated a staggering $35 billion in OxyContin sales over two decades. While Keefe occasionally diverges—the Napp Technologies disaster, though Sackler-owned, isn’t directly tied to their pharmaceutical practices—the narrative remains captivating and underscores the Sackler family’s pervasive influence across various industries.
The final third of “Empire of Pain” explores the aftermath of the opioid crisis and the attempts to hold the Sackler family accountable. The narrative expands to encompass federal prosecutors, state attorneys general, journalists, and activists who challenged the Sackler dynasty. Keefe expertly navigates the complex web of lawsuits, presenting them in a clear, accurate, and dramatically compelling manner. He also chronicles the widespread removal of the Sackler name from institutions that had previously accepted their philanthropic donations, highlighting the tarnishing of the family’s carefully cultivated reputation. This section underscores the growing public reckoning with the Sackler legacy.
Keefe acknowledges that the legal battles are ongoing, with Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement facing continued challenges. The book concludes without a definitive resolution, emphasizing the lasting devastation left in the wake of Purdue Pharma’s actions. “Empire of Pain” ultimately serves as a powerful morality tale about the corrosive impact of corporate greed on social institutions. Keefe critiques the legal framework that grants corporations the rights of individuals without commensurate ethical responsibilities. He argues that the corporate structure allowed the Sacklers to extract billions of dollars from Purdue Pharma—approximately $10 billion in distributions—leaving the company itself vulnerable to collapse and legal repercussions while shielding the family’s personal wealth.
The book raises critical questions about legal accountability and the protection afforded by the corporate veil. While corporate legal protections are not new, “Empire of Pain” suggests that the Sackler case might serve as a catalyst for re-evaluating these structures. However, Keefe ends on a somewhat pessimistic note, suggesting that systemic change remains unlikely despite the scale of the crisis.
It’s important to note that “Empire of Pain,” while comprehensive in its scope, primarily focuses on the corporate and legal dimensions of the opioid crisis. It doesn’t delve deeply into the personal stories of addiction and loss. While Keefe excels at exposing the Sackler family’s actions, the book maintains a certain distance from the human toll of the epidemic. For readers seeking a more visceral understanding of the crisis’s impact on individuals and communities, supplementary reading, such as Beth Macy’s “Dopesick,” might be beneficial. Similarly, the book doesn’t extensively explore the complexities of chronic pain management, an issue that becomes increasingly relevant as opioid prescriptions are curtailed.
Ultimately, “Empire of Pain” leaves readers with a stark understanding of the Sackler family’s enduring wealth and their likely escape from significant personal repercussions. Despite the devastation caused by OxyContin, the Sacklers are poised to remain among the ultra-rich, insulated from the consequences faced by countless others. Their only true loss, Keefe argues, is their reputation. The Sacklers’ relentless pursuit of recognition and a lasting legacy has backfired spectacularly. Their name, once associated with philanthropy and prestige, is now indelibly linked with greed and death. “Empire of Pain” ensures that the Sackler family will be remembered, but not in the way they ever intended, solidifying its place as the definitive Sackler family book for generations to come.
