Review by Juliesaraporter217 -- The United States of Opi...

[Juliesaraporter217]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The United States of Opioids" by Harry Nelson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The United States of Opioids: A Prescription for Liberating a Nation in Pain by Harry Nelson

The United States of Opioids is a comprehensive look at the Opioid Crisis including the reasons behind it, the history of the crisis, and the medical controversies that surround it.

Harry Nelson, author, board chair, and driving force behind Behavioral Health Association of Providers (BHAP) gives a full account of the crisis. He begins by discussing the waves of Opioid Crises: the over prescription of pain medication in the late 1990’s with OxyContin, the wave of black tar heroin after crackdowns made getting prescriptions difficult, and the distribution of fentanyl which is used as a counterfeit prescription and can be mixed with heroin and cocaine.
He also writes about the history of opioid use including the formation of the Opium Wars between China and Britain, the use of morphine to ward off pain and heroin to curb addiction, the introductions of certain medicines, and the laws that made them easier to obtain.
Nelson writes about the causes that lead to current opioid addiction. He cites the usual suspects such as Big Pharma’s promotion and availability of pain medication, as well as the physicians’ willingness to prescribe medicine instead of recommending alternative options.

The United States of Opioids is a well-written book that covers many reasons for and suggestions to solve the crisis. A real eye-opening chapter discusses the various socio political reasons that contribute to opioid addiction such as a troubled economy and instant gratification of needing pain relief fast. This chapter is sad and moving as the Reader understands why it can seem so easy for someone to become addicted to anything that could take the pain away. Unfortunately, taking Opioids only leads to more pain, addiction, and eventually death.

One problem the book has is that it ignores the personal experience for the political. Nelson writes the history, causes, and statistics very well but he does not present many case studies that show addiction. He is good at explaining why people become addicted, but it helps to have specific examples to make the people suffering from addiction more human than turning them but general statistics.

However, like any good book that discusses a problem, Nelson offers suggestions to curtail or end the crisis including doctors offering physical and mental alternatives to pain relief like meditation and therapy, as well as improving outreach programs and Treatment Centers to help counter addiction.
One of the strongest and most emotional suggestions is also the most personal. Nelson advises that as a society, we need to change how we view addiction and the lives that it claims. Even something as simple as describing a person with an addiction rather than an addict removes the shame and stigma of addiction and helps with recovery,

The United States of Opioids has four out of four stars. It reveals the many institutions, laws, regulations, and individuals that created the crisis. It also reveals that together they can end the crisis as well.

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The United States of Opioids
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[djr6090]

It sounds to me as if the writer is proposing systemic changes rather than individual intervention. I prefer that to the law enforcement approach. The book sounds like very serious reading. Thank you for the well written review.

[Erin Painter Baker]

Opioid addiction is a major problem in this country. I think it's great that the author here is trying to address the issue, both systematically with giving doctors other alternatives and also with the idea of helping society think differently about addiction.