Opioid Spoon Sculpture Dropped In Front Of Rhodes Pharma

COVENTRY, R.I. -- A local artist has brought his statement against the opioid crisis to Rhode Island. On Thursday, Domenic Esposito delivered an "opioid spoon" to Rhodes Pharma in Coventry.

The opioid crisis hits home for Esposito, whose brother has repeatedly relapsed.

"The burnt spoon is a dark, macabre symbol for my family," Esposito said. "My mom would call me, screaming and saying that she found another one. You never get used to it."

The massive spoon is made from cast solid aluminum and has "Rhodes" etched into the handle. Esposito chose the company because of its connection to Purdue Pharma, which is being sued by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey for its "direct role" in creating the opioid crisis in the United States. Healey alleges that the Sackler family, who owns Purdue, use deceptive sales tactics to push doctors to prescribe more opioid painkillers and keep patients using their products.

Rhodes Pharma is a subsidiary of Purdue.

"They were created in 2007 following a lawsuit with the federal government as a cushion for the company. Purdue claims to only be a small producer, but that's not counting other subsidiaries," Esposito said.

The spoon was only in place for about two hours after safety concerns led Esposito and his team to pack it up.

"Washington Street is a really busy area, and we had a lot of people pulling over to look at the spoon, along with several news crews," Esposito said. "We decided to leave after there was almost a crash."

Through The Opioid Spoon Project, Esposito hopes to raise awareness about the opioid crisis and bring accountability to those who caused it.

"This isn't just about Big Pharma," he said. "We're considering spoon drops to politicians, distribution centers, pharmacies and doctors."

Photo Credit: Domenic Esposito