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Portrait of Barry Meier

Barry Meier

b. 1949

American writer and journalist

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About Barry Meier

Born 1949. Barry Meier is an American journalist.

Pain Killer book In 2001, Meier began investigating Purdue Pharma and OxyContin, when it was still a relatively unknown drug made by a relatively unknown family, the Sacklers, including Mortimer Sackler and his brother Raymond Sackler, their children and grandchildren—at that time "one of the wealthiest families in the United States". In an August 24, 2001 Meier recorded an interview with Purdue CEO Michael Friedman and executives Howard Udell and Dr. Paul Goldenheim, who told Meier "they had learned of OxyContin’s growing abuse only in early 2000, a statement they also made before congressional committees". A 2004 New York Times review of the book concluded:

For years, doctors who prescribed OxyContin were told that the risk of addiction to the painkiller was less than 1 percent. Only after the drug had devastated thousands of lives was it revealed that this figure, touted as scientific fact, was based on a small study that had no relevance for the general public. The series premiered on Netflix on August 10, 2023.

Spooked (2021) Meier's 2021 book entitled Spooked: The Trump Dossier, Black Cube, and the Rise of Private Spies focused on the former The Wall Street Journal journalist, Glenn R. Simpson and the company he founded and co-ownedFusion GPSthe spy they hiredChristopher Steeleand his reportthe Steele dossier prior to the 2016 United States presidential election.

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Important facts

Born
1949, New York City
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Syracuse University
Employers
The New York Times
Awards
George Polk Award

People in Barry Meier's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Barry Meier's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Barry Meier?

American writer and journalist

When was Barry Meier born?

Barry Meier was born in 1949 in New York City.

What is Barry Meier's occupation?

Barry Meier is a journalist.

What nationality is Barry Meier?

Barry Meier is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Barry Meier

· Wikidata: Q50141898

· DBpedia: Barry Meier

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Barry Meier. https://biography.guide/barry-meier/

MLA: "Barry Meier." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/barry-meier/.

Chicago: "Barry Meier." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/barry-meier/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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