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eweaver1028's review against another edition
5.0
Such a thoroughly horrifying read. The author does a great job of describing the full scope of the opioid crisis, from historical aspects, to the rise of Big Pharma, to the explosion of heroin use. The countless personal stories are very upsetting, but necessary in order to highlight the deep ways people have been impacted by opioids and prescription drug abuse. A must read for any health care professional or anyone who would like to learn more about the epidemic and what can be done about it.
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
5.0
Meticulously researched. A heartbreaking history.
Opioids are terrifying. This book certainly opened my eyes to some of the challenges of opioid addiction and why it's such a uniquely sinister drug. I would recommend this to anybody who also lives in Appalachia.
Opioids are terrifying. This book certainly opened my eyes to some of the challenges of opioid addiction and why it's such a uniquely sinister drug. I would recommend this to anybody who also lives in Appalachia.
just_kidding_cosplay's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
babiefats's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
I have so many thoughts on this book--
Okay, first off, this was difficult for me to finish. In the beginning I thought I slogged through this so slowly and struggled to pick it up because of the content and empathizing with the topic and the lives lost to such a horrible time in American history. It wasn't until I started to push through that I recognized the difficulty I had in reading this and just "getting it done" was due to how outside the narrative I felt. This was written to the mothers. Macy attempted to really ground the narrative in empathy but did so with the white middle class mother.
As a black reader, my community not only felt severely under represented but the language was a hare's breath away from being marginalizing. That it by no means a qualm, though. I can't expect a white woman to take on the task of writing for ME and I did not come into this expecting that.
My qualm is with the lack of and possibly lack of understanding around the sheer breadth of victims this affected-- The elderly, for example, were so under represented in this and even today they often fall victim to over-medication. Addiction is more than a drug. I thought this would really take the time WITH the Dopesick, but this was not that.
I do appreciate a nod to the history. I wanted more science. But that was not the intent and I cannot be mad at the lack thereof. This felt like a character piece at times with a disjointed piling of facts and historical references.
On the other hand, there is a lot to say about a book that has me pacing and wanting to discuss it. This did that. Albeit in spite of--
Okay, first off, this was difficult for me to finish. In the beginning I thought I slogged through this so slowly and struggled to pick it up because of the content and empathizing with the topic and the lives lost to such a horrible time in American history. It wasn't until I started to push through that I recognized the difficulty I had in reading this and just "getting it done" was due to how outside the narrative I felt. This was written to the mothers. Macy attempted to really ground the narrative in empathy but did so with the white middle class mother.
As a black reader, my community not only felt severely under represented but the language was a hare's breath away from being marginalizing. That it by no means a qualm, though. I can't expect a white woman to take on the task of writing for ME and I did not come into this expecting that.
My qualm is with the lack of and possibly lack of understanding around the sheer breadth of victims this affected-- The elderly, for example, were so under represented in this and even today they often fall victim to over-medication. Addiction is more than a drug. I thought this would really take the time WITH the Dopesick, but this was not that.
I do appreciate a nod to the history. I wanted more science. But that was not the intent and I cannot be mad at the lack thereof. This felt like a character piece at times with a disjointed piling of facts and historical references.
On the other hand, there is a lot to say about a book that has me pacing and wanting to discuss it. This did that. Albeit in spite of--
tacitparadox's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
As essential as I think this book is, it's also just a grueling read. We have so much to grapple with in America, and one of our biggest issues is what role do we actually want government oversight agencies to play. If you ask me, politicians have snowed a lot of Americans, convincing them that regulations are bad, but to put it bluntly, this is what we end up with when no one is keeping watch over corporations. Purdue Pharma has a lot to answer for, but my pessimistic view is that they're very unlikely to ever be held accountable for the utter and devastating havoc they've wrought on this country, and that's depressing. This book is well-written, necessary, and important, but it is so hard to read it and not feel a sense of utter despair at the ruin and waste.
cdjdhj's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so good and powerful - everyone, especially parents, should read this. Author Beth Macy traces the opioid crisis in America through the stories of addicts, families, first responders, doctors, dope dealers and the big pharma companies that addicted this country. This book is important, powerful and riveting. Highly recommended for anyone who lives in the USA today. You will probably be affected by this crisis, whether you think you will or not.