Who is Betsy Mallum based on?

Coal miner Betsy Mallum and the family doctor who delivered her, Sam Finnix, are not real people. But the harrowing things we see them endure on our television screens really did happen to all too many people in Southwest Virginia.


Is Betsy Mallum based on a real person?

Samuel Finnix (Michael Keaton) and Betsy Mallum (Kaitlyn Dever), a fictional Virginia doctor and his patient.

Is the character Betsy in Dopesick a real person?

This show is based on true stories, but Betsy is a representation of many people, right? There's not one real Betsy out there? Yes. She's a fictional character that represents a lot of people.


Where is Betsy Mallum from?

Serving as the main representation of these people is Dever's Betsy Mallum, a composite character based on several accounts of real individuals. She is a teenage coal miner in rural Virginia who is prescribed OxyContin by Finnix after hurting her back during a mining accident.

Who are the people in Dopesick based on?

The show Dopesick, shown on the Hulu Network, is based on the non-fiction book, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted Americans by Beth Macy.


"I thought he was American!" Kaitlyn Dever and Will Poulter on Dopesick, Booksmart and fanboying.



Is Dr Samuel Finnix real?

Samuel Finnix, a composite character loosely based on multiple real doctors including Dr. Stephen Loyd, who used to take 100 pills a day at the height of his addiction.

Did any of the Sacklers go to jail?

While the Sacklers have never faced criminal charges — and have denied any wrongdoing – their alleged role pushing opioid sales have brought a growing public backlash. Museums, universities and other institutions around the world have stripped the Sackler name from buildings and programs.

Is OxyContin still on the market?

OxyContin, a trade name for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride, is a painkiller available in the United States only by prescription.


Who is Dr Finnix based on?

But for those attending Wednesday's symposium on the opioid crisis in Mobile, Lloyd might be best recognized as the inspiration behind the character Dr. Samuel Finnix -- portrayed by actor Michael Keaton -- on the eight-part Hulu series, “Dopsick.”

Is Curtis Wright a real person?

Curtis Wright IV (born 1949) is an American former government official known for his role in the Food and Drug Administration's approval of OxyContin for Purdue Pharma in 1995, followed by his subsequent employment by the company, which led to portrayals in films and reports in nonfiction books, magazines, and news ...

Does Purdue Pharma still exist?

When the bankruptcy plan takes effect, Purdue Pharma will cease to exist. It will emerge as a new company, Knoa Pharma LLC, owned by the National Opioid Abatement Trust, an entity controlled by creditors of Purdue.


Is Dopesick historically accurate?

Mostly. Hulu's limited series is based in part on material from the nonfiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America by journalist Beth Macy, who has written extensively about the opioid crisis in Appalachia.

Where is Richard Sackler now?

Sackler was married to Beth Sackler but is now divorced; they have three children: Rebecca, Marianna, and David. They have a charitable foundation, the Richard and Beth Sackler Foundation. He has lived outside Austin, Texas, since 2013.

Is Pseudoaddiction a real thing?

What to know about pseudoaddiction. Pseudoaddiction produces similar behaviors to drug addiction, including substance misuse and attempts to attain a drug or drugs. It can affect people who are not getting the correct treatment or management for their pain. However, it is not an official diagnostic term.


Who is amber in Dopesick based on?

Samuel Finnix, Amber in Dopesick is not based on one real person but a combination of people. Dopesick on Hulu is a dramatization of the real-life opioid crisis in America and is based mainly on Beth Macy's nonfiction book.

Was there a whistleblower at Purdue Pharma?

Steven May started at Purdue Pharma as a sales rep in 1999, and years later went on to allege fraud against Purdue as a participant in a whistle-blower lawsuit (which was dismissed on procedural grounds).

Who is Rick Mountcastle?

Rick Mountcastle is not only an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia and a Retired Federal Prosecutor, he is a bonafide hero.


What is Purdue Pharma called now?

In September 2021 Purdue Pharma announced that it rebrand itself as Knoa Pharma. Although the company shifted its focus to abuse-deterrent formulations, Purdue continued to market and sell opioids as late as 2019 and continued to be involved in lawsuits around the opioid epidemic in the United States.

Is OxyContin the same as oxycodone?

Oxycodone is an opiate agonist that is the active ingredient in a number of narcotic pain medications, including Percocet, Percodan, and OxyContin. OxyContin is a specific brand name for a pain medication in the opioid class (narcotic drugs) that contains the extended-release version of oxycodone.

Does the Sackler family still own Purdue?

Sackler Family, Purdue Pharma Reach $6 Billion Agreement With States. March 4, 2022 -- Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, which owns it, have reached a new deal to settle lawsuits that accused them of fueling the opioid addiction epidemic with aggressive sales and marketing of OxyContin and other painkilling drugs.


What happens to finnick in Dopesick?

Samuel Finnix, a Virginian doctor who was persuaded by a salesman working at Purdue Pharma to prescribe OxyContin for his patients. However, Finnix soon becomes addicted to the painkiller, and begins an extensive journey through addiction and recovery.

What happens to Billy in Dopesick?

Billy eventually finds his soul and secretly sends the Purdue Pharma training tapes to Rick and Randy anonymously. The tapes prove that the company lied as part of the sales strategy. The charges against Purdue Pharma are building up.

Will there be season 2 of Dopesick?

The American Drama miniseries, Dopesick is all set to be back with its second season which will premiere on HBO in 2023, HansMagazine reports.