WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME BACK TO THE FRIDAY "LATE SHOW" ALREADY IN PROGRESS.
YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO DO COMEDY HERE ON THE SHOW, IN BETWEEN THE
BOUTS OF PANT-SCRAPPING TERROR.
BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN SUBJECTS THAT ARE GENUINLY HARD TO TALK
ABOUT, LIKE THE OPIOID CRISIS.
IT'S AN EPIDEMIC THAT AFFECTS BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES--
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, RICH PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE
IT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE BLAME BIG PHARMA, BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S
THEIR FAULT.
ACCORDING--
YEAH.
>> Jon: WOW.
>> Stephen: ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL FOUR OUT
OF FIVE HEROIN USERS STARTED BY MISUSING PRESCRIPTION
PAINKILLERS.
IT'S RIGHT THERE ON AMAZON: "CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT OXY ALSO
BOUGHT THE MEXICAN BROWN HORSE."
NOW, ONE COMPANY THAT HAS PROFITED MASSIVELY OFF YOUR PAIN
IS PURDUE PHARMACEUTICALS, THE MAKERS OF OXYCONTIN, WHICH IS
OWNED BY THE SACKLER FAMILY, SEEN HERE NOT GIVING A (BLEEP)
ABOUT YOU.
THE SACKLERS AND PURDUE HAVE FACED HUNDREDS OF LAWSUITS,
INCLUDING ONE RIGHT NOW BY THE STATE OF COLORADO, WHICH ALLEGES
THAT PURDUE PHARMA "DOWNPLAYED THE RISK OF ADDICTION ASSOCIATED
WITH OPIOIDS," "EXAGGERATED THE BENEFITS," AND "ADVISED HEALTH
CARE PROFESSIONALS THAT THEY WERE VIOLATING THEIR HIPPOCRATIC
OATH AND FAILING THEIR PATIENTS UNLESS THEY TREATED PAIN
SYMPTOMS WITH OPIOIDS."
WELL, THEY HAVE A POINT.
AFTER ALL, THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH CLEARLY STATES "FIRST, DO NO
HARM, UNLESS HARMING IS EXTREMELY PROFITABLE!
THEN HARM!
HARM!
HARM!" PURDUE DENIES THESE CHARGES, BUT
HERE'S THE THING: DESPITE TELLING CONGRESS THAT THEY
DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT OXY'S POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE UNTIL 2000,
PROSECUTORS HAVE FOUND THAT, IN OVER 100 NOTES RECORDING THEIR
VISITS TO DOCTORS IN THE LATE 90s, "THE COMPANY'S SALES
REPRESENTATIVES USED THE WORDS "STREET VALUE," "CRUSH," AND
"SNORT."
PURTHAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE HEAD OF SALES IS EL CHAPO.
( LAUGHTER ) NOW, IN 2007, PURDUE PLED GUILTY
TO A FELONY CHARGE OF MISLEADING REGULATORS ABOUT OXYCONTIN'S
POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE AND PAID A FINE OF $600 MILLION.
YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN BAD WHEN THE GOVERNMENT FINES YOU ONE
AIRCRAFT CARRIER.
( LAUGHTER ) OF COURSE, THIS SAME TIME, THEY
MADE $35 BILLION.
AND NOW THE SACKLERS ARE TAKING THEIR DRUG EMPIRE GLOBAL BECAUSE
THE FAMILY IS MOVING RAPIDLY INTO LATIN AMERICA, ASIA, THE
MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA, AND OTHER REGIONS, AND PUSHING FOR
BROAD USE OF PAINKILLERS.
THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS AMERICAN EXPORT SINCE 1957'S
PLYMOUTH CRUMPLE.
"CRUMPLE: YOU'RE DEAD"
AND IF THE SACKLER'S HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE, IT WAS
REVEALED JUST THIS WEEK THAT THEY OWN A SECOND SECRET
COMPANY, RHODES PHARMA, A LITTLE-KNOWN RHODE ISLAND-BASED
DRUGMAKER THAT IS AMONG THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF OFF-PATENT
GENERIC OPIOIDS IN THE U.S.
SO, THEY'RE SELLING THE NAME BRAND AND THE GENERIC.
THAT LIKE A DEALER SELLING METHAMPHETAMINES AND THE GENERIC
BRAND, "PRESIDENT'S CHOICE TOOTH-LOOSENERS."
( LAUGHTER ) ANOTHER NOT-SO-FUN FACT ABOUT
RHODES PHARMACEUTICALS IS IN ADDITION TO SELLING ALL THESE
OFF-BRAND OPIATES, THEY ALSO JUST PATENTED A NEW DRUG TO HELP
WEAN ADDICTS FROM OPIOIDS.
SO THE SACKLERS ADDICTED THE COUNTRY TO OPIOIDS, NOW THEY'RE
GOING TO PROFIT OFF THE CURE?
THAT TAKES A PAIR OF SWINGING SACKLER.
BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?
IT'S CLASSIC MARKETING.
"ARE YOU AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY?
TRY SPIDER!
COMPLICATIONS FROM SPIDER?
ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT BIRD.
ADDICTED TO BIRD?
INTRODUCING CAT.
IS CAT RUINING YOUR LIFE?
TAKE DOG.
DOG STILL NOT WORKING?
HOW ABOUT GOAT?
GOAT CAUSING YOU PAIN?
WELL, THEN GET THE NUMBER ONE PRODUCT IN AMERICA, HORSE.
HOW'S THE OLD LADY?
SHE'S DEAD, OF COURSE."
BUT THE SACKLERS ARE DOING GREAT.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH ANNA KENDRICK.
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