Title: We’re Overdosed
Author: Barry I. Gold
Publisher: Central Park South Publishing
ISBN: 978-1956452204
Pages: 246
Genre: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
In a world filled with untold dangers, violence, hatred and bigotry, there is one common threat which has affected millions upon millions of families all around the world, and that is addiction. Addiction can come in many forms, from alcohol and food to specific activities, but the main form of addiction which has become quite an epidemic around the world (but especially in the United States) is drug addiction. Finding a right way of addressing the drug addiction crisis has become paramount to the health community and families everywhere.
One way of doing this is understanding the history of these drugs and understanding the role the pharmaceutical industry has had on this epidemic. Author Barry I. Gold’s We’re Overdosed is the perfect way to capture this mission. In the book, the author not only explores the history of opium and how it spread itself throughout the world, but the origin of morphine from opium as well as the global pharmaceutical industry’s rise to power. Using his scientific background, the author argues for the use of Federal legislation to help gain more of a handle on the prescription opioids.
The balance that was struck between the personal experiences teaching and educating others on the origins of opium and drug addiction overall with the statistics and education which helps determine a path forward through the opioid crisis was crucial to crafting a book which will speak to readers looking to engage in this dialogue. The author does a wonderful job of making the specific medical terminology and case studies accessible to a wider audience, using a writing style that spoke to the people who are actually being affected by this crisis while also engaging in helpful discussions concerning how to address these concerns in the future.
Honing in on the path that opium took and the impact it has had on the world, this book definitely speaks to those interested in history, in particular those with a fascination or interest in learning more about pharmaceuticals and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole, and the medical and legal needs of addressing this issue. The way the author presents this book and the scientific approach to the subject and the thing which stood out was how unafraid, and unrelenting, the author was in critiquing the pharmaceutical companies, healthcare system, and even the laws governing this world. Balancing this with the emotional and physical impact that the morphine and the epidemic as a whole have on individuals and their families will keep the readers invested as the book progresses, allowing those lessons and the history to really be absorbed in a meaningful way.
We’re Overdosed is a thought-provoking and important read for anyone interested in healthcare, public policy, or the ethics of modern medicine. Barry I. Gold raises crucial questions about our society’s reliance on drugs and challenges readers to rethink the way we approach health and wellness.
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