Topic: Hydrocodone

The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma utilized a patent-extension strategy to transition from hydrocodone to the more addictive OxyContin. By lobbying the FDA for a "non-abusive" label, they were able to market the opioid aggressively despite its high potential for habit formation. This predatory activity is cited as a primary driver of the national opioid crisis, resulting in massive profits for the company and widespread mortality among the American public.