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Pain Killer
- An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
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Publisher's Summary
OxyContin, a potent painkiller containing opium-derived oxycodone as its key active ingredient, was first sold in 1996 as a treatment for cancer patients and other chronic pain sufferers. From the start, the drug's manufacturer aggressively marketed its patented time-release formula as a breakthrough in the effort to reduce prescription drug abuse. It wasn't long, however, before thrill-seeking teenagers shattered that illusion of safety; by simply crushing an "Oxy," they were able to tap into a high so seductive it would come to dominate their lives. Some patients, seeking relief from pain, also found themselves drawn to the drug's dark side.
Pain Killer takes listeners on a journey of discovery that begins with the true story of Lindsay, a high-school cheerleader in Virginia who gets hooked on Oxys, and expands outward to explore the critical issues of legitimate pain management, prescription drug abuse, and how the misuse of science by the drug industry threatens the public good. With the fast-rising abuse of prescription drugs by young people ringing alarm bells within government, the how and why behind the OxyContin disaster is a gripping listen not only for parents, but also for medical professionals, community leaders, business executives, and all those concerned with this crisis.
The dangers described in Pain Killer also reverberate far beyond the threat from a single drug at a particular moment in time. The focus of our government's war on drugs has clearly misled many of us into thinking that only illegal drugs smuggled from beyond our borders can be abused. As Meier tells the dramatic story, some of the most deadly substances are produced and sold legally right here at home.
The extraordinary and true story of Oxycontin
Equal parts crime thriller, medical detective story, and business exposé, Pain Killer takes a hard-hitting look at how a powerful drug touted as the salvation for millions triggered a national tragedy. At its inception, the legal narcotic OxyContin was seen as a pharmaceutical dream, a "wonder" drug that would herald a sea change in medical care while reaping vast profits for its maker. It did do that; but it also unleashed a public health crisis that cut a swath of despair and crime through unsuspecting small towns, suburbs, and cities across the country. As reports of OxyContin overdoses made front-page and network news, doctors, narcotics agents, regulators, industry executives, and lawmakers raced in, scrambling to slow the damage. Behind it all stood one of America's wealthiest families, and a drug company whose relentless promotion helped fuel the problem
Written by award-winning journalist Barry Meier, whose special report in the New York Times triggered national interest in OxyContin, Pain Killer chronicles the rise of the multibillion dollar pain management industry and lays bare its excesses and abuses.
Critic Reviews
“Fascinating.” (The New York Times)
“A timely, compelling, important book.” (The Seattle Times)
“An absorbing indictment of the modern health-care marketing industry, which, as depicted here, has blurred the line between medical ‘education’ and shilling.” (Publishers Weekly)
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What listeners say about Pain Killer
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- TiffanyD
- 12-24-18
Infuriating and Compelling
It's a good thing I started this on my day off because I basically kept listening all day and could not be bothered with anything else. This is an infuriating story of how one company's greed sparked and fueled a national crisis. It's even more infuriating when you realize most of this book is about 15 years old (there are 2018 edition updates) and we've still done so little to reel in irresponsible drug marketing. My one complaint is that I would have liked more about the human toll. The only victim we really get to know is Lindsey Myers, a high school cheerleader whose life spirals after she starts using and quickly becomes addicted. A couple more personal stories I think would have been a good balance to the facts and figures. But overall, if you want to understand how we got where we are in the opioid crisis, this is a great place to start.
6 people found this helpful
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- The one and only Michelle
- 10-08-18
Good history of where/how the Opiod epidemic began
This is a good book for the history of the opioid epidemic, but lacks in a couple of areas. The first area is how it lacks in attention to the plight of chronic pain patients. We're very much harmed by the reigning in of opioid prescriptions to patients. I think it would have been useful to go into more depth about where we are now (this the second area), in terms of what physicians are doing to effectively stop pain as much as possible without using pain medications. That area needs a lot of attention. I realize that's not the focus of the book, but it could have been expanded in much greater detail for the updated 2018 version.
5 people found this helpful
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- Sarah Canning Howroyd
- 01-16-19
Rivetingly accurate portrayal of the opioid crisis
This book was amazing, well researched and accurate. I do a lot of work surrounding the opioid crisis and learned things from this book. A must read for anyone wanting to better understand the inner workings of how American got where it is present day with Opioids.
3 people found this helpful
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- Jorge Zarate
- 10-19-21
Pain joyride addiction
I'm person that doesn't even like talking Tylenol, never knew pain addiction was this huge. I could see why anyone would get addicted. Very informative and eye opening. as always love the narration bay Ray Porter
2 people found this helpful
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- Peter Riley
- 02-03-22
Essential
An important building block to understand the roots of the opioid crisis. If only we had all read it back when it was originally published in 2003 perhaps, as citizens, we would have forced our government to act and saved lives and stopped untold suffering. What a parable on the evil nexus of corporate greed and government complicity
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- L. Porter
- 06-13-21
An excellent review of the drug industry's sin
This book is an excellent resource for anyone who is looking for an understanding of the drug industry's involvement in the prescription drug abuse epidemic.
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- Alednam A Uonopk
- 08-20-20
Shines light on humanity/opium in the 21st cenury
Humanity and opium have a history that goes back centuries. However there is no magic bullet for pain. Ibogaine from the iboga plant is supposed to eradicate an individual's addiction to opiates. Lost quite a few folks to heroin/pills/fentanyl and still counting.....
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- Han Moreno
- 08-27-18
Outstanding book
Very detail book how addiction to pain killer have effected dearly people for those that abuse it and as well prescribed the drug for pain killer. It is very concerning with the rise of addiction nowadays.
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- zach
- 08-21-18
Amazing book on how OxyContin got out of control
Great information that opened my eyes to opioid abuse because a pharmaceutical company's exploits. The book focuses on south west Virginia and the Appalachian regions.