“Dopesick”, the American opioid health scandal reviewed by Barry Levinson

In 1996, a pharmaceutical company launched a new pain-relieving drug that it said was revolutionary because it was non-addictive. In fact, this drug will kill more than 500,000 people in the United States from overdoses. It is this health scandal that tells Dopesick, broadcast on Disney +.

In a mining town in Arkansas, a doctor played by Michael Keaton begins to prescribe to his patients this miracle drug, Oxycontin, which a representative of the laboratory recommends to him. He will witness the addiction of his patients who always ask for more, and the devastation of the drug.

This is Barry Levinson, the director of Rain man and Good Morning from Vietnam who signs the first episodes. The story he discovered fascinated him:

“I had heard of the drug, but I did not know its consequences, nor the mechanism which allowed it to be certified by the federal government. How is that possible, how it could have happened, how this epidemic was triggered, how so many people were deceived about the dangers of this drug, it was a truly compelling story. “

Barry levinson

to franceinfo

She does not hide anything from the manipulations of the pharmaceutical laboratory which disseminates false advertisements and manages to bribe the federal agency for the control of drugs. His boss, Richard Sackler, is presented as a poor cynical salesperson.

Barry Levison says: “There is only one archive with Richard Sackler. It is when he testifies before the Federal Drug Agency. It is the only thing that can be found on him! He is a calm man, methodical, which in fact seeks its place in its family and finds itself in a situation of competition. ”

The series is perfectly interpreted. Michael Keaton embodies the overwhelmed doctor with great empathy. Barry Levinson recalls: “It’s great to work with him. He’s very good. He’s able to play his character in a very simple way. I think he was perfect for this role.”

A series in the form of a gripping, agonizing and human investigation, which will not reconcile us with the “big pharmas”. Eight episodes on Disney +.