Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America

SUMMARY OF DOPESICK: : DEALERS, DOCTORS, AND THE DRUG COMPANY THAT ADDICTED AMERICA BY BETH MACY

by United States Government US Army

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	341 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	6 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

In her explosive new book, Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, Beth Macy tells the gripping story of the opioid epidemic, from its roots in the overprescription of prescription painkillers to the rise of fentanyl and the devastating toll it has taken on communities across the country.

With meticulous research and powerful storytelling, Macy reveals the culpability of Purdue Pharma, the company that brought OxyContin to the market, and their role in fueling the crisis, as well as the complicity of doctors and other healthcare professionals who enabled the overprescription of opioids.

Macy's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the causes and consequences of the opioid epidemic, and a call to action for policymakers and healthcare professionals to take meaningful steps to address this public health crisis.

The Roots of the Opioid Epidemic

The opioid epidemic has its roots in the late 1990s, when Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, a new prescription painkiller that was marketed as being less addictive than other opioids. However, as Macy reveals in her book, Purdue Pharma's claims about OxyContin's safety were false.

In fact, OxyContin is just as addictive as other opioids, and it quickly became a major driver of the opioid epidemic. By 2000, OxyContin was the most prescribed opioid in the United States, and by 2002, it was responsible for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.

Purdue Pharma's aggressive marketing of OxyContin was a major factor in the epidemic. The company targeted doctors with misleading information about the drug's safety and efficacy, and it paid doctors kickbacks for prescribing OxyContin.

As a result of Purdue Pharma's deceptive marketing practices, millions of Americans were prescribed OxyContin for minor pain, and many of them became addicted.

The Rise of Fentanyl

In the mid-2000s, a new opioid called fentanyl began to emerge on the black market. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, and it is often sold on the black market as a cheaper alternative to these drugs. However, fentanyl is also much more dangerous than heroin or cocaine, and it has been responsible for a surge in overdose deaths in recent years.

The rise of fentanyl has made the opioid epidemic even more deadly. In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, and two-thirds of those deaths involved fentanyl.

The Devastating Toll of the Opioid Epidemic

The opioid epidemic has had a devastating toll on communities across the country. Families have been torn apart, children have been orphaned, and communities have been left struggling with the aftermath of addiction.

The economic costs of the opioid epidemic are also staggering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the epidemic costs the United States more than $78 billion each year in healthcare costs, lost productivity, and crime.

The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis that requires urgent action. policymakers and healthcare professionals need to take meaningful steps to address this crisis, including cracking down on the overprescription of opioids, increasing access to addiction treatment, and providing support for families and communities affected by addiction.

A Call to Action

Beth Macy's book, Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America, is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the causes and consequences of the opioid epidemic, and a call to action for policymakers and healthcare professionals to take meaningful steps to address this public health crisis.

We must hold Purdue Pharma and other drug companies accountable for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. We must also increase access to addiction treatment and provide support for families and communities affected by addiction.

The opioid epidemic is a tragedy, but it is not too late to address this crisis and save lives.

SUMMARY OF DOPESICK: : DEALERS, DOCTORS, AND THE DRUG COMPANY THAT ADDICTED AMERICA BY BETH MACY

by United States Government US Army

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	341 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	6 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE