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Eugene

(61,593 posts)
Wed May 8, 2019, 11:32 AM May 2019

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

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)
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