The protest against a prescription painkiller that triggered a wave of addiction in the usa oxycontin. Its a synthetic opiate with an effect similar to heroin which has been prescribed to millions of americans. That. The protestors were calling out greed for profit in the past 5 years alone almost 200000 people have died from overdoses related to prescription opioids. Patients can become addicted to painkillers like oxycontin in just one month when swallowed the pills active ingredient is released gradually but when chewed crushed inhaled injected or abused they can cause respiratory arrest. Sed. On again i. Managed to. Have gang. Oxycontin was the drug that helped the sackler brothers arthur mordor mar and raymond expand their company produce pharma and to a pharmaceutical empire. The cyclers are often thought of as art patrons like here in new Yorks Metropolitan Museum they made generous donations to promote culture worldwide from montreal to copenhagen paris berlin and london. Their