The opioid crisis spurred by OxyContin has claimed thousands of lives. Last week in a bankruptcy court hearing held as part of a settlement agreement, people who lost loved ones to addiction spoke directly to three members of the Sackler family, who founded drugmaker Purdue Pharma.
Two local women who participated in the hearing told Jim Braude on Greater Boston that they jumped at the opportunity to tell their story to the Sacklers.
Cheryl Juaire lost two of her sons, Sean and Corey, to addiction. Corey was a new father when he died at the age of 23. His daughter is now 11 years old.
"She will never, ever, ever know her dad, who was just ... a great kid that got caught up in addiction," Juaire said.
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Her son Sean entered into a recovery program and later got a job there. But after he had a bad day, she recalled, he found OxyContin in his father-in-law's cabinet and "quickly lost everything to addiction."
"If the Sackler family hadn't marketed opioids as they had, nobody would have started with them, and the addiction wouldn't have happened," she said.
Juaire said she'd like to see the Sacklers criminally charged, but fears that if they end up in jail, the settlement money would be in jeopardy.
Kimberly Krawczyk, who is in recovery herself, said the settlement money should go toward prevention and helping people through recovery. She also told the Sacklers that thousands of people have not had recovery opportunities like her, including her brother Michael.
"Look at the numbers of overdoses in this country since the Sackler family started their marketing. It was a complete disappointment," Krawcyzk said.
Watch: Local women share their stories of loss before the Sacklers
