What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDopesick
Danny Strong · Series · 2021
If you loved Dopesick, start with Crisis (Nicholas Jarecki, 2021) — a film on the same thread. Below: 3 books, 2 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Dopesick across media.
What hooked you in Dopesick was the chilling way the systemic greed of pharmaceutical giants destroys individual human lives.
Books on the same thread
Dreamland
Sam Quinones · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with Dopesick: Pharmaceutical Industry.
If Dopesick revealed the devastating mechanics of the opioid epidemic, this essential investigative work provides the foundational reporting that uncovers the specific marketing strategies behind the national crisis.
Empire of Pain
Patrick Radden Keefe · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with Dopesick: systemic corruption.
This definitive account of the Sackler family mirrors the corporate corruption portrayed in Dopesick, tracing the generational wealth and moral bankruptcy that fueled a widespread public health catastrophe.
Dope Sick
Walter Dean Myers · Book · 2009
Explores: Drug Addiction, Redemption, Violence.
While Dopesick examines the industry at a macro level, this novel captures the harrowing, personal reality of drug addiction and the difficult path toward redemption for those left behind.
Films on the same thread
Crisis
Nicholas Jarecki · Film · 2021
Explores: Opioid Crisis, Drug Trafficking, Corporate Corruption.
You will recognize the same structural complexity from Dopesick in this thriller, as it weaves together multiple perspectives to expose the dark intersection of corporate greed and drug trafficking.
Pain Hustlers
David Yates · Film · 2023
Shares 2 threads with Dopesick: Pharmaceutical Industry, Systemic Corruption.
This film explores the same moral ambiguity found in Dopesick, focusing on how the predatory nature of the pharmaceutical industry lures desperate individuals into dangerous and unethical business schemes.
Podcasts on the same thread
Sick to Death
Podcast
Explores: Medical Malpractice, Whistleblower, Hospital Negligence.
Just as Dopesick highlights the systemic failures within healthcare, this series investigates the terrifying consequences of medical negligence and the struggle to hold powerful institutions accountable for their actions.
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Dopesick: social justice.
If the complex ethical dilemmas in Dopesick captured your attention, you will appreciate this show's deep dive into the gray areas of human behavior and the flaws of justice.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Dopesick based on a true story about the opioid epidemic?
Dopesick is a dramatized account of how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The narrative tracks the crisis across multiple locations, including a distressed Virginia mining community, the hallways of the DEA, and the corporate offices of Big Pharma in Manhattan.
What is the primary focus of the Dopesick television series?
Dopesick focuses on the origins and progression of the American opioid crisis. It examines the roles played by a pharmaceutical company, the regulatory efforts of the DEA, and the devastating impact of addiction on local communities like those found in the Virginia mining region.
How does Dopesick portray the scale of the opioid crisis?
Dopesick portrays the scale of the crisis by juxtaposing the opulence of Big Pharma in Manhattan with the reality of a struggling Virginia mining community. This contrast illustrates how corporate actions triggered a widespread drug epidemic that impacted various sectors of American society.
Is Dopesick a documentary about the DEA?
Dopesick is not a documentary, but a television series that incorporates the DEA into its narrative. It explores the struggle with opioid addiction from multiple perspectives, including the regulatory challenges faced by the DEA and the corporate influence of the pharmaceutical industry.