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Whistleblower: Purdue Pharma Continued Shady Sales Tactics for OxyContin

Sales reps told doctors that patients could cure “pseudoaddiction” with more opioids, former staffer says.

Purdue Pharma, which makes the opioid OxyContin, continued deceptive sales tactics after settling a Department of Justice lawsuit for over $630 million in 2007, a former employee said. Carol Panara told CBS News that during her 2008 sales training, she was told to tell doctors that someone in pain could experience addiction-like symptoms known as “pseudoaddiction” and the cure was a higher opioid dose. A 2015 study found no scientific basis for “pseudoaddiction,” but the Food and Drug Administration defended Purdue Pharma’s use of the word. It sent a statement to CBS News, saying “the referenced language in section 9.2 of OxyContin’s labeling is intended to assist prescribers by recommending that they evaluate all patients presenting with drug-seeking behavior... to determine whether the behavior is part of an underlying addiction or if the behavior is related to inadequate pain control.” Purdue Pharma said in a statement that its sales and marketing “have been consistent with the information contained in the FDA-approved label.” Panara spoke with CBS News after Purdue Pharma laid off its sales team earlier this week.