Politics
Beth Macy Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Dopesick Claims
Clear Facts
- Beth Macy, author of Dopesick, is running for Congress while facing renewed criticism over her book’s portrayal of the opioid crisis.
- The author has claimed that right-wing politics is killing working-class communities across America.
- Her book and public statements continue to shape the debate over the causes and solutions to the opioid epidemic.
Beth Macy, the journalist whose book Dopesick brought national attention to the opioid crisis, is now seeking elected office.
Critics are taking a fresh look at her work and public statements as she campaigns for Congress.
This weekend, I crossed the Potomac to travel to Winchester and Front Royal in Virginia’s 6th District to praise and boost Beth Macy @papergirlmacy, who is running strong against the shrinking MAGA base. The author of Dopesick and numerous important works on how right-wing politics is killing working-class communities across America, Beth has crossed over from simply documenting and analyzing right-wing destruction of American society to actively opposing it and organizing to replace it. She’s running a surging and exciting campaign for Congress. Sending Beth to the US House will be like sending other great authors in history to represent the people in government, thought leaders like Ben Franklin and Václav Havel. Another chance for a great breakthrough as organizing creates landslide conditions for change across America.
— Jamie Raskin (@jamie_raskin) October 29, 2026
Anyone care to ask Beth Macy how she plans to undo the damage her novel Dopesick did to pain patients? For years, Americans were sold a very specific narrative about prescription opioids, reinforced by Beth Macy’s Dopesick. What deserves a thorough investigation is how some of the very people who helped shape and promote that narrative went on to benefit professionally and financially from opioid litigation, addiction treatment, and government policy. Andrew Kolodny, Anna Lembke, Art Van Zee, and Stephen Loyd all had roles in opioid litigation, addiction medicine, or prescribing policy. Macy herself received an award from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), an addiction organization with financial relationships involving addiction-treatment pharmaceutical companies, including the manufacturer of the opioid, Suboxone. (Over 1600 lawsuits have been filed against the makers of Suboxone) If we’re going to follow the money behind prescription opioids, we need to follow the money behind the addiction-treatment industry. What’s particularly troubling is that Macy has acknowledged the harm being done to stable chronic-pain patients through forced tapers and restrictive prescribing policies. Beth, where is the comparable book, documentary, or national investigation into the patients who lost their physicians, their medications, their ability to function, and, in some cases, their lives? The Doctor Patient Forum has spent ten years documenting these stories. It’s time to investigate who profited from restricting them. (Andrew Kolodny (below) earned $500,000 for his expert testimony in a single opioid trial, and that was just ONE of multiple cases in which he served as an expert witness)
— Claudia A. Merandi (@CMerandi) October 19, 2026
The Valley braved the rain to show support for Beth Macy! As Republicans in Washington drive up the cost of gas and groceries, @papergirlmacy knows families are struggling. She is focused on delivering for them. And she has what it takes to flip this seat. Get out and VOTE! 🗳️ https://t.co/N6QFNjNujJ
— Abigail Spanberger (@SpanbergerForVA) September 20, 2026
On #AxeFiles, Dopesick author Beth Macy, who’s has spent her life reporting on the erosion of small town/rural America, blisters Trump for wooing these communities w/a cocktail of false promises & hate. But she doesn’t let the Dems off the hook. Full pod👉https://t.co/285dJOCfPq https://t.co/zL4oBmBOPY
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) October 5, 2022
Macy has long argued that conservative policies bear primary responsibility for the suffering in working-class communities.
Her perspective has drawn both praise and pushback from readers and policy makers alike.
“Right-wing politics is killing working-class communities across America”
Opponents contend that Macy’s narrative overlooks personal responsibility, family breakdown, and the role of federal agencies in the crisis.
Supporters maintain that her reporting highlights systemic failures that demand attention from lawmakers.
As Macy moves from author to candidate, voters will weigh her record against her policy proposals.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
