New Yorker writer Masha Gessen tells the harrowing story of her son’s opioid addiction, comparing her experience with recently released documents of the Sackler family complaining about their damaged reputation due to the opioid epidemic. Gessen recounts the start of her son’s addiction after an accident, and his subsequent attempted overdose, as well as his struggle to get clean and how drugs eventually destroyed their relationship. At the same time, the Sacklers—founders of opioid maker Purdue Pharma—were upset about how they were treated in the media and discussed what to do about it to salvage the family name. Gessen ends by saying that she feels luckier than many moms involved in anti-Sackler protests—at least her son is still alive.
And finally, analysts say the market for food and beverage products infused with CBD—the non-psychoactive component of marijuana—might boom this year. So expect to see products such as Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with CBD, but only if federal regulatory agencies can finally issue guidelines on the additive. So far, the FDA has frequently called out companies for illegally using CBD in foods and drugs and making outrageous claims that it can cure everything from acne to Alzheimer’s and even cancer and COVID. The industry is growing rapidly based on this misinformation and misleading marketing, as consumers purchase CBD products believing they are safe and effective. Currently, there is mostly anecdotal evidence about its impact, and little if any scientific research showing that it does what producers claim. It’s time for the FDA and other agencies to crackdown on CBD products to protect public health.