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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Read in app Matthew Broderick as Richard Sackler on Netflix's "Painkiller." Keri Anderson/Netflix Netflix's new drama "Painkiller" is a fictionalized retelling of the origins of America's opioid crisis. But while some parts of the show were dramatized for TV, others are inspired by real-life events. Here's a breakdown of the most outrageous moments from "Painkiller," and whether or not they actually happened. Starring Matthew Broderick, Uzo Aduba, and Taylor Kitsch, Netflix's buzzy new drama "Painkiller" is a fictionalized retelling of real events — namely, the rise of the powerful opioid OxyContin, which was developed and distributed by Purdue Pharma. Broderick plays Richard Sackler, a member of the controversial Sackler family that owns Purdue, and who himself was once president of the company. And while some events portrayed on the show may seem too bizarre to be true, many were, in fact, rooted in reality.Here's what Netflix's "Painkiller" got right and wrong about the opioid crisis, Purdue Pharma, and the Sackler family. Arthur Sackler did have a career in psychiatric medicine, although it's unclear if he was regularly performing lobotomies. Clark Gregg as Arthur Sackler on Netflix's "Painkiller." Keri Anderson/Netflix In "Painkiller," viewers are introduced to Arthur Sackler (played by Clark Gregg) as the character is lobotomizing a patient. The brutal procedure was a popular psychiatric treatment in the mid-20th century, but it's unclear if Arthur himself regularly performed lobotomies.In Patrick Radden Keefe's landmark New Yorker article (upon which the Netflix show draws heavily), Keefe reported that all three Sackler brothers — Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond — worked as doctors at the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, New York, together for a time, and founded the center's Creedmoor Institute of Psychobiological Studies. They were all interested in pursuing "pharmaceutical alternatives" to familiar psychiatric treatments at the time like electroshock therapy and, ostensibly, lobotomies. Keefe wrote in his book "Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty" that Arthur "hated" electroshock therapy, and the three brothers were also disturbed by lobotomies. However, showrunner Peter Berg defended the show's version of events in an interview with Esquire's Jack Holmes. Berg told Esquire that Arthur did perform lobotomies. And as Holmes reported, the physician was more interested in "repeat customers" instead of the "one-and-done" nature of lobotomy patients, and eventually began looking into psychiatric medications — much like the show depicts. Yes, Purdue Pharma did give away OxyContin plushies as part of their marketing plan. Matthew Broderick as Richard Sackler on "Painkiller," with OxyContin plush mascots visible in the background. Keri Anderson/Netflix The OxyContin plushies feature heavily on "Painkiller," with the cheerful stuffed toys frequently used as a contrast to the addiction and death their namesake drug has wrought on people. As Stat News reported in 2016, the plushies were a part of Purdue Pharma's marketing strategy when it came to promoting OxyContin. The company also gave away other "swag" items including branded fishing hats and coffee mugs featuring the OxyContin tagline "The one to start with" which changed to "The one
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