Review by Giets1 -- The United States of Opioids
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Giets1
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- Latest Review: The United States of Opioids by Harry Nelson
Review by Giets1 -- The United States of Opioids
[Following is a volunteer review of "The United States of Opioids" by Harry Nelson.]
In iUnited States of Opioids/i Harry Nelson writes a passionate piece on the history and facts of opioids and its effects on society. He starts by introducing cases of overdoses to the reader. He then discusses the science behind opioids and explains the “how” and “why” of patients’ re-use, tolerance and eventual addiction to the drugs, the effects thereof on the brain and respiratory system, and the need to repeat the act.
Nelson goes further, discussing the role played by physicians, politics, the healthcare system, drug companies and false marketing in making these drugs available to the public. He proposes alternatives to opioids, including cannabinoids and physical and psychotherapy, as well as the problems associated therewith. Legal restrictions, time and funds all play a role. While there are many alternatives, opioids are more available, cost effective and generally seen as a “quick fix”. Which leads the author to the real problem that America is facing. Nelson offers possible solutions, suggests a much-needed mind-shift and points for discussion.
The subject of this book intrigued me as soon as I saw the title. Normally I struggle when there are a lot of facts, data and statistics to go through, but not once while reading this book was I bored or confused. I was captivated from start to finish. Even though the author did not repeat himself constantly, he did bring the text together every now and then to make his point clear. The book is cohesive and easy to understand. There is also an emotional element to the book which I enjoyed: it is almost as if you can pick the author’s passion off from the pages as you read. This is also reflected in the solutions he offers. I cannot say that there is anything about this book that I did not like. Total honesty is transparent throughout the chapters, which I appreciate in any non-fiction work.
I would definitely recommend United States of Opioids to others. However, because of some typing errors, I will give it a rating of b3 out of 4 stars/b. These errors were mostly repetition and/or omission of words. If not for this, I would definitely have given this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
This is a must-read for not only every American, but also for readers in third-world countries, who eventually tend to follow in America’s footsteps. Parents could definitely benefit by becoming aware of the pitfalls and being able to see the red flags in their children’s behaviour. Our youth also need to know the facts. We all need to know the dangers of opioids. We need to check more labels and ask more questions. After reading this book, I certainly will.
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The United States of Opioids
View: on Bookshelves
In iUnited States of Opioids/i Harry Nelson writes a passionate piece on the history and facts of opioids and its effects on society. He starts by introducing cases of overdoses to the reader. He then discusses the science behind opioids and explains the “how” and “why” of patients’ re-use, tolerance and eventual addiction to the drugs, the effects thereof on the brain and respiratory system, and the need to repeat the act.
Nelson goes further, discussing the role played by physicians, politics, the healthcare system, drug companies and false marketing in making these drugs available to the public. He proposes alternatives to opioids, including cannabinoids and physical and psychotherapy, as well as the problems associated therewith. Legal restrictions, time and funds all play a role. While there are many alternatives, opioids are more available, cost effective and generally seen as a “quick fix”. Which leads the author to the real problem that America is facing. Nelson offers possible solutions, suggests a much-needed mind-shift and points for discussion.
The subject of this book intrigued me as soon as I saw the title. Normally I struggle when there are a lot of facts, data and statistics to go through, but not once while reading this book was I bored or confused. I was captivated from start to finish. Even though the author did not repeat himself constantly, he did bring the text together every now and then to make his point clear. The book is cohesive and easy to understand. There is also an emotional element to the book which I enjoyed: it is almost as if you can pick the author’s passion off from the pages as you read. This is also reflected in the solutions he offers. I cannot say that there is anything about this book that I did not like. Total honesty is transparent throughout the chapters, which I appreciate in any non-fiction work.
I would definitely recommend United States of Opioids to others. However, because of some typing errors, I will give it a rating of b3 out of 4 stars/b. These errors were mostly repetition and/or omission of words. If not for this, I would definitely have given this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.
This is a must-read for not only every American, but also for readers in third-world countries, who eventually tend to follow in America’s footsteps. Parents could definitely benefit by becoming aware of the pitfalls and being able to see the red flags in their children’s behaviour. Our youth also need to know the facts. We all need to know the dangers of opioids. We need to check more labels and ask more questions. After reading this book, I certainly will.
******
The United States of Opioids
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: The United States of Opioids by Harry Nelson
