Who Is Russell Portenoy on Dopesick? Wikipedia and Richard Sackler Inspiration

Russell Portenoy is one of the doctors on the series Dopesick, who supported OxyContin drug in 1995. Stay with us to know more about him.

The series named “Dopesick” is based on the story that portrays how one company triggered the worst drug epidemics in U.S. history. And, Russell Portenoy is one of the characters from the series who does exist in real life as well.

Table of Contents

Who Is Russell Portenoy on Dopesick?

The Netflix series Dopesick has portrayed a real-life character named Russell Portenoy. In 1995, a pharmaceutical company named Purdue Pharma produced a drug named OxyContin and aggressively marketed it.

The drug was launched with one of the biggest pharmaceutical marketing campaigns which later was proven addictive and invited the worst opioid epidemy in the country.

The Netflix drama miniseries is based on this same story. The character Russell was an advocate for Purdue whose testament bring the drug into use which later evolved into an epidemy.

After the drug was created, many doctors argued that it is addictive. However, Russell Portenoy, who is a pain specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center argued that it was a ‘medical myth’ and opioids can be used long-term with little side effects.

And the reason why he said that is because he was receiving funds from Purdue.

Explore Russell Portenoy Wikipedia

Russell Portenoy Wikipedia profile is not available on the Internet. However, the place where he works now has some information about his expertise.

He is the director of the MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care and Chief Medical Officer of MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care. He is also a professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

He was founding Chairman of the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care and the Gerald J. Friedman Chair in Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center before joining MJHS.

He also served as founding Chairman of the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care and the Gerald J. Friedman Chair in Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center.

In 2019, he agreed to testify against Purdue and other drug-makers with whom he used to accept funds and advocate for them previously, according to CNBC.

Richard Sackler and Russell Portenoy- How Do They Know Each Other?

Richard Slacker and Russell Portenoy were familiar with each other. The chairman and president of Purdue Pharma used to provide funds for Dr. Russell Portenoy, a pain specialist so that he would advocate for their drug named OxyContin.

The words from a specialist were believed by the people which later turned into a disaster as people started being addicted to the drug.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7u7PRZ6WerF%2Bau3DDyKSgaK%2BYpHqqv4yrrKyrlaG5brzOq6uepp%2BuerC6jJ2mqZ2jnrCsedaioqKolZm2onnAp5tmqpmYtaK%2Bw2aqmpubobKzecinqqmhopbBqrvNaA%3D%3D