Review of The United States of Opioids
Posted: 21 Sep 2021, 10:29
[Following is a volunteer review of "The United States of Opioids" by Harry Nelson.]
In America and across the world, people are dying by the day as a result of opioid overdose. Many more are suffering silently as a result of drug and substance addiction. The United States of Opioids was written in the hope of focusing much-needed attention on this terrible crisis. The book provides not only an account of the evolution of the opioid crisis but also essential resources that we can all use to stem the flood of harm caused by the crisis and help everyone around us who has been affected.
In The United States of Opioids, healthcare attorney Harry Nelson guides us through the opioid crisis, offering a detailed account of the crisis followed by "takeaways" that sum up key points after every chapter. He then takes a birds-eye view of the big picture and ends up with "a clear-eyed message of hope- a prescription for liberating a nation in pain." The book begins with an account of how the crisis has unfolded over the past two decades in three "waves" of death by opioids in the USA, as the number of overdose deaths skyrockets shockingly. It also explains what qualifies to be called an opioid and how many types of opioids there are. You also learn why so many people are hooked up on opioids despite their lethality.
The author has explored the cradle and history of regulatory endeavors that set the stage for the current crisis. Giant pharmaceutical companies have pushed hard to sell the opioids they manufacture. The book explains how they manage to cheat justice and slip under when found guilty of FDA violations. It also exposes the various points of health system failure as medics switch from labeling pain as a "fifth vital sign" to making doctors and hospitals reluctant to treat patients in pain. As the demand for instant gratification and the allure and dangers of social media increase, the author explains why the opioid crisis might also have resulted from a breakdown in social and spiritual connections and loss of hope. And, come to think of it, why is it that so little attention has been paid to the enhancement of quality addiction treatment given that one in ten American adults are said to be addicted to drugs and other opioids? What efforts are being implemented to respond to the opioid crisis? Are they working?
The book contained minimal grammatical errors; hence it was a smooth read. I also liked the fact that Nelson has avoided labeling people as addicts and instead refers to them as being addicted or recovering from addiction. This use of person-centered language (emphasizing the person and not the disability) eliminates the stigma and shame associated with opioid addiction. However, I found much of the medical jargon hard for me to read. Pronouncing some of the pharmaceutical vocabularies used left my head reeling. There was nothing else to criticize about the text.
In the words of Dave Sheridan- President of the National Association of Recovery Residences- this book is "a starting point and framework for thinking seriously about how we develop better means for meeting the needs of people in recovery from addiction, people not yet in recovery, families, communities, and everyone affected by the opioid crisis." Consequently, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. Not only is it a call to arms to the opioid crisis, but it also contains an invaluable resource guide for those struggling with addiction and their families. The book itself is an essential and timely message about a cancer at hand that is threatening to land a crushing blow on the very core of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Although the text was written mainly for the American audience, it is a must-read for everyone across the globe who is concerned about the well-being of their society. The opioid crisis is rooted in every country. The principles contained herein will be equally useful for people addicted to opiates worldwide. I, therefore, recommend it to medical practitioners, mental health advocates, and everyone affected by drug and substance abuse. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
******
The United States of Opioids
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In America and across the world, people are dying by the day as a result of opioid overdose. Many more are suffering silently as a result of drug and substance addiction. The United States of Opioids was written in the hope of focusing much-needed attention on this terrible crisis. The book provides not only an account of the evolution of the opioid crisis but also essential resources that we can all use to stem the flood of harm caused by the crisis and help everyone around us who has been affected.
In The United States of Opioids, healthcare attorney Harry Nelson guides us through the opioid crisis, offering a detailed account of the crisis followed by "takeaways" that sum up key points after every chapter. He then takes a birds-eye view of the big picture and ends up with "a clear-eyed message of hope- a prescription for liberating a nation in pain." The book begins with an account of how the crisis has unfolded over the past two decades in three "waves" of death by opioids in the USA, as the number of overdose deaths skyrockets shockingly. It also explains what qualifies to be called an opioid and how many types of opioids there are. You also learn why so many people are hooked up on opioids despite their lethality.
The author has explored the cradle and history of regulatory endeavors that set the stage for the current crisis. Giant pharmaceutical companies have pushed hard to sell the opioids they manufacture. The book explains how they manage to cheat justice and slip under when found guilty of FDA violations. It also exposes the various points of health system failure as medics switch from labeling pain as a "fifth vital sign" to making doctors and hospitals reluctant to treat patients in pain. As the demand for instant gratification and the allure and dangers of social media increase, the author explains why the opioid crisis might also have resulted from a breakdown in social and spiritual connections and loss of hope. And, come to think of it, why is it that so little attention has been paid to the enhancement of quality addiction treatment given that one in ten American adults are said to be addicted to drugs and other opioids? What efforts are being implemented to respond to the opioid crisis? Are they working?
The book contained minimal grammatical errors; hence it was a smooth read. I also liked the fact that Nelson has avoided labeling people as addicts and instead refers to them as being addicted or recovering from addiction. This use of person-centered language (emphasizing the person and not the disability) eliminates the stigma and shame associated with opioid addiction. However, I found much of the medical jargon hard for me to read. Pronouncing some of the pharmaceutical vocabularies used left my head reeling. There was nothing else to criticize about the text.
In the words of Dave Sheridan- President of the National Association of Recovery Residences- this book is "a starting point and framework for thinking seriously about how we develop better means for meeting the needs of people in recovery from addiction, people not yet in recovery, families, communities, and everyone affected by the opioid crisis." Consequently, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. Not only is it a call to arms to the opioid crisis, but it also contains an invaluable resource guide for those struggling with addiction and their families. The book itself is an essential and timely message about a cancer at hand that is threatening to land a crushing blow on the very core of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Although the text was written mainly for the American audience, it is a must-read for everyone across the globe who is concerned about the well-being of their society. The opioid crisis is rooted in every country. The principles contained herein will be equally useful for people addicted to opiates worldwide. I, therefore, recommend it to medical practitioners, mental health advocates, and everyone affected by drug and substance abuse. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
******
The United States of Opioids
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon