Samuel Finnix and Kaitlyn Dever as Betsy Mallum, a lesbian Appalachian miner (and yes, all of those descriptors play into the importance of her character), two ends of the spectrum who are the mainstays of an important part of the story. Leading this group is Michael Keaton as Dr. The cast that was assembled for this series, the first seven episodes of which were released for review, are beyond mesmerizing. “Dopesick” is seat of the pants, holding on by your fingernails compelling drama. This is an extraordinarily difficult technique to pull off and the scripts, primarily by Strong, and the various directors (Michael Cuesta, Barry Levinson, Patricia Riggen, and Danny Strong), all of whom have experience in traditional and non-traditional thrillers of the character variety, do not let us down. Starting in a recent period revealing the ramifications of past actions, whether in DEA meetings, Congressional testimony, or a particular character consequence, the episode will go back to an earlier time frame illustrating either the beginning or middle of an issue that will have an impact on the future of which we have already had a glimpse. The genius in Strong’s “Dopesick” is his successful use of timeframe. There are few spoilers here but suffice it to say that everything that happens is too little, too late. Alex Gibney’s recent HBO documentary Crime of the Century covers some of the same ground but expands its focus to other companies exploiting the massive loopholes in the drug approval and compliance guidelines. I have not read Macy’s book but have followed this story in the press for several years and recently read Patrick Radden Keefe’s excellent study of the Sackler family in his well-reviewed book Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty. But this one is different because it was fueled by the medical establishment acting as sheep following the advertisements, false claims, and monetary encouragement of one company in particular: Purdue Pharmaceuticals, privately owned and operated by the Sackler family of Connecticut. This is not a new story it has been relived repeatedly whether through heroin or cocaine addiction. About the Ox圜ontin opioid crisis, this limited series reveals the all too unpleasant truths about greed, government corruption, and illness intertwined with the stories of many who went through the hell of addiction and those who tried to staunch the epidemic. “Dopesick,” the incredible eight part docudrama series, comes from the incisive mind of Danny Strong based on Beth Macy’s excellent book Dopesick (Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America).

Fennix in “Dopesick.” Photo courtesy of Gene Page/Hulu

Book dopesick is based on