

Finnix knows about the struggles the people of his town face and the impact a “miracle drug” like Ox圜ontin would have on their lives. There is also a hint of personal tragedy that might have swayed Finnix’s mind about the drug.įinnix’s situation is seemingly reflective of the doctors of the era who, as much as the patients, were victims of Ox圜ontin’s vigorous marketing. Finnix is cautious about prescribing Ox圜ontin but seeing Betsy struggling with pain and realizing that her job is crucial for her, Finnix gives Betsy a few tablets from the sample Billy gave him. Of course, that is precisely the case, as Finnix (like many other doctors) is presented with the misleading sales pitch carefully constructed by Purdue Pharma.

Therefore, it is hard to believe that he would jeopardize the health of his patients knowingly. Finnix is a responsible doctor and popular figure among the local community. However, as we get a look at Finnix’s life and his introduction to Ox圜ontin, we realize the complex choice he faces as a doctor. The implication is that Finnix knowingly prescribed Ox圜ontin to patients despite knowing that opioid is an addictive drug. Finnix agrees and accepts that he prescribed the drug to his patients. He is asked whether he believes that Ox圜ontin is the reason for the deaths of many patients in his town. When we first meet Finnix, he is present at the court hearing. Dopesick Episode 1 Ending: Does Finnix Prescribe Ox圜ontin to Betsy? However, they eventually make a breakthrough and launch an official investigation hoping to make a case against Curtis Wright. They are struggling to make a criminal case due to the abnormality of the situation. Mountcastle and Ramseyer speak to Meyer about the information she dug out but are unable to learn much. The duo tells Brownlee about Ox圜ontin, an opioid drug that claims to be non-addictive and which has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a special label, despite being a class 2 narcotic. In 2002, DA John Brownlee meets with federal prosecutors Rick Mountcastle and Randy Ramseyer to discuss the increased rate of crimes in the district. However, when she tries to pursue an official investigation, she is shut down by her superiors. She digs into the matter and learns that the crime rates have gone up since Ox圜ontin’s introduction and are somehow connected to the drug. In 1999, DEA Agent Bridget Meyer conducts a mid-level cocaine bust and finds a large amount of Ox圜ontin at the hideout. Pharmaceutical sales rep Billy meets with Finnix and explains to him the benefits of Ox圜ontin and claims that less than 1% of the users get addicted to the drug. In the same town, miner Betsy Mallum experiences chronic backache after a work accident that disrupts her personal life.

The mining town where Finnix works often sees him dealing with patients experiencing physical pain due to their labor-intensive jobs. Samuel Finnix ( Michael Keaton) conducts his medical practice. The story then moves to a rural Virginia town in 1996, where Dr. In 2005, a lawsuit takes place to hold those responsible for the abuse of Purdue Pharma’s drug Ox圜ontin, which misled doctors and patients alike. The first episode titled ‘First Bottle’ opens in 1986 when Richard Sackler, Chairman of Purdue Pharma, pitches his idea of revolutionalizing pain medicines by introducing a drug for chronic and moderate pain. Here’s everything you need to know about the ending of ‘Dopesick’ episode 1. Naturally, viewers might have a few questions about the episode’s events, and we come bearing answers. It also carefully weaves together real-world and fictional elements. However, the narrative jumps back and forth over nearly two decades, right from the inception of the drug to the mass legal fallout from its devastating effects.
