I listened to this audiobook after watching Dopesick, and, despite thinking it was a great show, one of the critiques of the show I seemed to share with other people was “they’re really painting the Sacklers as mustache twirling villains, I wish we got a more in-depth look at this family.” It really didn’t occur to me that they could be so much more evil and out of touch, and be the singular cause of so much destruction.

And on a more personal note, it helped to make sense of the crisis that has slowly been creeping into my life. Before I more or less categorized opioid addiction like alcoholism, as in some people are addicted to alcohol, some to opioids. But this was jaw dropping. We have lost some friends to overdoses, and some are so far gone down a path of destruction, it’s hard to see how they will ever come back. I’m glad this book gave them a voice, and showed that in a lot of cases they never stood a chance. That doesn’t make it better, just helps it make sense.

Would love to hear other people’s take on the book, and any recommendations to follow this with. Currently reading Demon Copperhead, I’m sure I’ll want to keep falling down the rabbit hole when I’m done.