Samuel Finnix, a dedicated doctor in a small Virginia mining town who was persuaded by a Purdue Pharma salesman to prescribe Ox圜ontin for his patients. Is Michael Keaton's character based on a real doctor? 'I think that a storyline like Dopesick in the somewhat fictionalized narrative can bring a kind of moral throughline that often feels pretty satisfying,' added Mann. Brian Mann, NPR's addiction correspondent, said the TV show streamlines the real-life story in ways that can make for more effective TV drama. The Sacklers, however, maintain they did nothing wrong. Hulu's Dopesick also portrays a law enforcement and regulatory system struggling to hold the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma accountable, overwhelmed by their financial, legal and lobbying resources.

They're often shown as callous villains with little regard for patients who become addicted or communities devastated by the disease. When it comes to members of the Sackler family who own and control Ox圜ontin manufacturer Purdue Pharma, the series takes a strong position. Anything that didn't feel real wouldn't fly.īut Strong says several characters in Dopesick are fictionalized - their character arcs assembled from the stories of a few different people. 'Because we were documenting the crimes of Purdue Pharma, the show needed to feel as real as possible,' Macy said. They consulted a doctor who had been addicted to Ox圜ontin who revealed the horrors he suffered. They brought in people from small towns and with opioid abuse disorder. While developing the show, they did extensive research to give the series a feeling of authenticity.

Dopesick beth macy sparknotes