September 2022 | Volume 14, Issue 2

Watch the full video on CNN

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you consider the person interviewed in this video a “victim?” Why or why not?
    This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. A “victim” is a person harmed, injured, or killed because of a crime or an accident. The term also refers to someone who is “tricked” or “hoaxed.” In your author’s opinion, the gentleman interviewed in this video is indeed a victim. He began taking Oxycontin (an opioid) for pain due to a knee injury, and due to the highly addictive nature of the drug, suffered from addiction. Ultimately, a person makes a choice regarding whether to take a drug, but the highly addictive nature of opioids can often take “choice” out of the equation.
  2. Are you surprised that the person interviewed in this video is calling upon the United States attorney general, a U.S. attorney, or the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Sackler family (the owners of Purdue Pharma L.P.) criminally? Explain your response.
    This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. In your author’s opinion, it is not surprising that the interviewee is calling upon a criminal investigation of the Sackler family conducted by the federal government. Although there has been some movement in civil court regarding the liability of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family for the opioid epidemic, the criminal liability issue is still outstanding. Criminal liability can be based on intent to do harm, recklessness, or negligence, so the interviewee’s request for the federal government to investigate the possible of criminal culpability does appear reasonable.
  3. As noted in the video, Richard Sackler claims that those who abuse opioids are the “criminals,” the “culprits,” and the “problem.” Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Explain your response.
    This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. The response to this question most likely relates to the respondent’s view regarding whether the use of drugs is a personal choice, or whether that personal choice has been essentially taken away by the addictive nature of the drug. According to the Mayo Clinic, “(o)pioids are highly addictive, in large part because they activate powerful reward centers in your brain. Opioids trigger the release of endorphins, your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. Endorphins muffle your perception of pain and boost feelings of pleasure, creating a temporary but powerful sense of well-being.”