Chapter
The Birth of the Opioid Crisis
22:58 - 26:14 (03:15)
Purdue Pharmaceutical launches Oxycontin in 1995 for non-cancer pain and floods the market with a blizzard of prescriptions, while patients figure out how to extract the pure oxycodone, leading to the birth of the opioid crisis.
Clips
In 1995, Purdue Pharmaceutical began promoting OxyContin as a less addictive opioid that would benefit both patients and prescribers.
22:58 - 26:14 (03:15)
OxyContin
Summary
In 1995, Purdue Pharmaceutical began promoting OxyContin as a less addictive opioid that would benefit both patients and prescribers. However, the drug soon became a main driver of the opioid epidemic in the United States.