Empire of Pain
Biographies and Memoirs
How did one of the world’s wealthiest families build its fortune—and what was the cost? *Empire of Pain* traces three generations of the Sackler family, from their early success in medicine and philanthropy to the rise of OxyContin and the devastating opioid crisis. Patrick Radden Keefe examines how the family and its company promoted the drug, influenced medical and regulatory institutions, and responded to growing scrutiny and legal challenges. Blending investigative reporting with a sweeping family history, the book explores wealth, power, reputation, and the consequences of pursuing profit at almost any cost.