Ed Bisch A Grieving Dad Spearheads the Fight Against Opioids

Ed Bisch A Grieving Dad Spearheads the Fight Against Opioids

Author: Joanie Sigal August 15, 2025 Duration: 39:23

Ed Bisch is an activist who founded Relatives Against Purdue Pharma (RAPP) after his son, Eddie, died from an OxyContin overdose in 2001. After Eddie's death, Ed started a website to warn others about the dangers of OxyContin and began connecting with other parents who had lost children to the drug. This led to the formation of RAPP, a group that has been actively protesting and seeking to hold Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.

Key details about Ed Bisch and RAPP:

  • Formation: Ed Bisch founded RAPP around 2003 with three other mothers who also lost children to opioids. Anyone who has stood up to Purdue Pharma or spoken out against them is considered a member.

  • Activism: RAPP is known for holding protests and attending hearings, often with photos of their deceased children, to keep pressure on the company and its owners. Ed has also been a claimant in a class-action lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

  • Goal: The primary goal of RAPP is for Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family executives to receive jail time for their involvement in the opioid crisis, arguing that financial penalties are not enough of a deterrent.

  • Media Attention: Ed Bisch's activism has been featured in various media, including the MTV series "True Life," the MSNBC special "The Forgotten Epidemic," and articles by authors like Beth Macy ("Dopesick" and "Raising Lazarus"). He has been a consistent voice calling for the Department of Justice to prosecute the Sacklers.

  • Settlement Views: Ed Bisch has been vocal in his criticism of the various settlements reached with the Sackler family, calling them "a bankruptcy scam" and a "sad joke" because the payouts to victims are very small and the Sacklers' fortune remains largely untouched. He also points out that the settlements often include immunity from future civil lawsuits.


HELP SUPPORT OUR FIGHT AGAINST ADDICTION. DONATE HERE:
https://www.patreon.com/theaddictionpodcast

PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK.

AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES:
https://theaddictionpodcast.com

CONTACT US:
The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return
theaddictionpodcast@yahoo.com


Intro and Outro music by:

Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/


Hosted by Joanie Sigal, The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return is a raw and necessary conversation about substance use and the path out of it. This isn't a clinical lecture, but a collection of real voices from the heart of the crisis. You'll hear from people who have lived through addiction to opioids, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, and fentanyl, sharing their journeys from dependence to recovery. The podcast also makes space for the families and loved ones whose lives are intertwined with this struggle, offering their perspectives on the chaos, the repeated attempts at rehab, and the strategies that finally made a difference. Each episode tackles the complex societal and personal issues surrounding addiction, all while grounding the discussion in tangible hope and practical recovery options. By focusing on these firsthand accounts, Joanie creates a podcast that serves as both a lifeline and a roadmap for anyone touched by this challenge-whether you're seeking help for yourself or striving to understand how to support someone else. Tune in for stories that don't shy away from the darkness but consistently point toward the light of resilience and regained control.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return
Podcast Episodes
Mike Grant Running in Recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
Meet Mike Grant. Six years ago, he was in an intensive diversion program for habitual drunk driving. Now, he's a 100-mile ultra-marathoner, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the author of the gritty, honest memoir,…
Derek Maltz - Fighting Against Drugs Where it Counts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
Get Ready for a Deep Dive Into Global Drug Enforcement and National Security Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Derek S. Maltz, a 28-year veteran of the DEA and one of the most influential voices in the fight a…
Denise Barnes NARCAN+911 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:38
Denise Barnes was living a full and faith-filled life in sunny San Diego—a devoted mother of three, a wife, a surfer, and a woman grounded in love and purpose. But everything changed the day her youngest son unknowingly…
Julieta Santagostino Working for a Drug Free World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:58
What happens when one woman refuses to stay silent in the face of devastation? Meet Julieta, a powerhouse advocate whose journey from the border town of Juarez, Mexico, to global stages is anything but ordinary. Raised i…
Chris Janssen Forgiveness and Recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:03
Chris Janssen, MA, BCC is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, and results coach in performance and mindset. Her award-winning books include "Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want" https://www.amazon.com/…
Tiffany Jenkins Addiction, Laughter, Raw Redemption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:07
Although best known for her comedy, Tiffany Jenkins is incredibly passionate about bringing awareness to mental illness and addiction. She travels the nation to speak at high schools, jails, rehab centers, and conference…
Matthew Tyner Sr Fast Life, Hard Lessons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
Matthew (Matt) A. Tyner, Sr. is the author of Fast and Hard: From Addictions to Redemption. He is a man who has reinvented himself and has invested his second chance at life with building positive relationships with thos…
Sybil Stanonis Recovery Through Dance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:31
Dancing since the age of 5, Sybil Stanonis' first love was tap. Taking classes and competing with top level recognition in tap, ballet and jazz throughout childhood; she knew dance was a passion. Her competition success…
Rob Lohman Addiction, Faith and Redemption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
Rob Lohman's battle with addiction began at just 14 years old, fueled by a family history of alcoholism. Throughout his teenage and young adult years, he lived a chaotic, chameleon-like existence, losing his true identit…