Part 5/10:
A focal point of this investigation will be the close ties between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and pharmaceutical companies, which have historically raised eyebrows. RFK Jr. has pointed to the opioid crisis—a catastrophic public health disaster fueled in part by FDA negligence—as a prime example of governmental failure. The approval and marketing of OxyContin by Purdue Pharma culminated in a devastating epidemic, reflecting poorly on the agency tasked with safeguarding public health while also indicating a troubling alliance with corporate interests.