Review of The United States of Opioids
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Uzoma Kalu
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Review of The United States of Opioids
[Following is a volunteer review of "The United States of Opioids" by Harry Nelson.]
I have always been intrigued by books on drug abuse, addiction, and its resultant effects. You can imagine my excitement as I read this book. The United States of Opioids by Harry Nelson is a non-fiction masterpiece that delves profoundly and in great detail into the prevalent opioid crisis in America.
It begins by revealing the disturbing statistics on the victims of this crisis. The book records that according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there have been around 700,000 deaths from drug overdoses between 1999 - 2017. Many celebrities have died from a drug overdose. As the book progresses, it gives us a detailed history of opioids, stipulating that it has been used for so many years.
This incredible piece of literature explains how the United States government fought against the crises in the 20th and 21st centuries, emphasizing the prosecution of physicians. It examines the role of big pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma and the legal actions that have been taken against them. The story of Purdue Pharma is indeed sensational. From its creation to its mafia-style of operation, fraudulent marketing of the opioid 'Oxycontin' and the resultant deaths. If you have an interest in drug abuse, you will undoubtedly be intrigued by the tale of Purdue Pharma.
Harry was detailed in this book and went deep into the root causes of the opioid crises, such as Automation,Decaying Social Networks, the Creep of Consumerism, and so on. It elucidates various legislations that have been enacted to resolve the problems. He concludes by prescribing several practical and effective solutions to the crises such as the regulated use of cannabis, more research on safer pain therapeutics, widespread teaching of prevention and intervention skills; this book is filled with empowering information, and it is a must-read.
This book has a lot of positive aspects. It expresses the history, causes, and intricacies of the opioid crisis in great detail; it also says this detail prominently and concisely as the book has just ten chapters. The organization of the text is superb. The author adheres to the classic structure of non-fiction; Problem, Cause, and then Solution. Harry pens this book such that it educates and enjoyably empowers the reader; he does this by telling a lot of exciting stories, such as the narrative of Micheal Jackson's overdose and the story of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler brothers. I learned many technical terms and concepts from this text, for instance, the difference between opiates and opioids, how opioids affect the brain's functionality, and the science behind addiction; the author simplifies all the technicalities, making it easy for the reader to understand. The solutions prescribed by the book are very logical, and the facts presented are all accurate.
The only negative aspect of this book is that I found some grammatical errors. However, the book was professionally edited. Therefore, I still rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I did not rate it less than four because I consider the book to be a well-written and detailed masterpiece on the opioid crisis in America, and the few grammatical errors did not affect my experience with the book.
I recommend this book to people interested in reading about the use, abuse, and addiction to drugs, their effects, and solutions. I also recommend it to victims of drug abuse and people that love or know them. Professionals that treat and help such victims would find this book very helpful.
******
The United States of Opioids
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I have always been intrigued by books on drug abuse, addiction, and its resultant effects. You can imagine my excitement as I read this book. The United States of Opioids by Harry Nelson is a non-fiction masterpiece that delves profoundly and in great detail into the prevalent opioid crisis in America.
It begins by revealing the disturbing statistics on the victims of this crisis. The book records that according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there have been around 700,000 deaths from drug overdoses between 1999 - 2017. Many celebrities have died from a drug overdose. As the book progresses, it gives us a detailed history of opioids, stipulating that it has been used for so many years.
This incredible piece of literature explains how the United States government fought against the crises in the 20th and 21st centuries, emphasizing the prosecution of physicians. It examines the role of big pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma and the legal actions that have been taken against them. The story of Purdue Pharma is indeed sensational. From its creation to its mafia-style of operation, fraudulent marketing of the opioid 'Oxycontin' and the resultant deaths. If you have an interest in drug abuse, you will undoubtedly be intrigued by the tale of Purdue Pharma.
Harry was detailed in this book and went deep into the root causes of the opioid crises, such as Automation,Decaying Social Networks, the Creep of Consumerism, and so on. It elucidates various legislations that have been enacted to resolve the problems. He concludes by prescribing several practical and effective solutions to the crises such as the regulated use of cannabis, more research on safer pain therapeutics, widespread teaching of prevention and intervention skills; this book is filled with empowering information, and it is a must-read.
This book has a lot of positive aspects. It expresses the history, causes, and intricacies of the opioid crisis in great detail; it also says this detail prominently and concisely as the book has just ten chapters. The organization of the text is superb. The author adheres to the classic structure of non-fiction; Problem, Cause, and then Solution. Harry pens this book such that it educates and enjoyably empowers the reader; he does this by telling a lot of exciting stories, such as the narrative of Micheal Jackson's overdose and the story of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler brothers. I learned many technical terms and concepts from this text, for instance, the difference between opiates and opioids, how opioids affect the brain's functionality, and the science behind addiction; the author simplifies all the technicalities, making it easy for the reader to understand. The solutions prescribed by the book are very logical, and the facts presented are all accurate.
The only negative aspect of this book is that I found some grammatical errors. However, the book was professionally edited. Therefore, I still rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I did not rate it less than four because I consider the book to be a well-written and detailed masterpiece on the opioid crisis in America, and the few grammatical errors did not affect my experience with the book.
I recommend this book to people interested in reading about the use, abuse, and addiction to drugs, their effects, and solutions. I also recommend it to victims of drug abuse and people that love or know them. Professionals that treat and help such victims would find this book very helpful.
******
The United States of Opioids
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
