In preparation for his role as attorney Rick Mountcastle, Peter Sarsgaard went to Dayton (OH) where he accompanied local police on ride-alongs, hung out with active opioid users, talked with afflicted family members and support groups, and went to a jail where he observed users trying to dry out. He has said that the hands-on experience transformed his perspective and imbued him with more empathy and understanding for the victims of the epidemic.
Based on the nonfiction book "Dopesick" by Beth Macy.
In a 2019 episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver", Michael Keaton appeared in the main story about the opioid crisis in the USA and read real quotes from Richard Sackler's court proceedings.
The shooting location of Clifton Forge is a railroad town, not actually a mining town.
Dr Samuel Finnix, played by Michael Keaton, tells Billy Cutler that he is from a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania. Michael Keaton is from Coraopolis, a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania.