Yet last week the family at the centre of the epidemic were granted immunity.
Journalist Patrick Radden Keefe spent years investigating the notorious Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma who make powerful painkiller OxyContin.
Patrick also testified at the Sackler’s recent Congressional hearing.
The result of Patrick's work is a book, Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty.
He spoke to Francesca Rudkin about it.
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