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Dopesick
- Narrated by: Beth Macy
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
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Publisher's Summary
A Hulu limited series inspired by the New York Times bestselling book by Beth Macy.
Journalist Beth Macy's definitive account of America's opioid epidemic "masterfully interlaces stories of communities in crisis with dark histories of corporate greed and regulatory indifference" (New York Times)—from the boardroom to the courtroom and into the living rooms of Americans.
In this extraordinary work, Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of a national drama that has unfolded over two decades. From the labs and marketing departments of big pharma to local doctor's offices; wealthy suburbs to distressed small communities in Central Appalachia; from distant cities to once-idyllic farm towns; the spread of opioid addiction follows a tortuous trajectory that illustrates how this crisis has persisted for so long and become so firmly entrenched.
Beginning with a single dealer who lands in a small Virginia town and sets about turning high school football stars into heroin overdose statistics, Macy sets out to answer a grieving mother's question—why her only son died—and comes away with a gripping, binge-worthy story of greed and need. From the introduction of OxyContin in 1996, Macy investigates the powerful forces that led America's doctors and patients to embrace a medical culture where overtreatment with painkillers became the norm. In some of the same communities featured in her best-selling book Factory Man, the unemployed use painkillers both to numb the pain of joblessness and pay their bills, while privileged teens trade pills in cul-de-sacs, and even high school standouts fall prey to prostitution, jail, and death.
Through unsparing, compelling, and unforgettably humane portraits of families and first responders determined to ameliorate this epidemic, each facet of the crisis comes into focus. In these politically fragmented times, Beth Macy shows that one thing uniting Americans across geographic, partisan, and class lines is opioid drug abuse. But even in the midst of twin crises in drug abuse and healthcare, Macy finds reason to hope and ample signs of the spirit and tenacity that are helping the countless ordinary people ensnared by addiction build a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.
"An impressive feat of journalism, monumental in scope and urgent in its implications."—Jennifer Latson, The Boston Globe
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What the critics say
"Essential reading...Macy follows one specific drug through the range of problems it has caused, the people it has hurt, the difficulties in fighting it (with plenty of too little, too late) and the glimmers of hope that remain." (Janet Maslin, The New York Times)
"Dopesick will make you shudder with rage and weep with sympathy. Beth Macy's empathy and fearless reporting reaches beyond the headlines to tell the stories of how real people have been left to cope with the fallout of corporate greed, and the willful blindnesses of businesses and the government. Macy again shows why she's one of America's best non-fiction writers" (Brian Alexander, author of Glass House)
"Macy potently mixes statistics and hard data with tragic stories of individual sufferers, as well as those who love and attempt to treat them.... Macy's forceful and comprehensive overview makes clear the scale and complexity of America's opioid crisis." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
What listeners say about Dopesick
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sarah
- 2022-05-05
Everyone should read this
Really eye-opening and guy-wrenching read. it shifted my perspective and understanding about drug use. Important that we all have knowledge about this widespread societal problem.
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- Lidy Fraser
- 2022-10-18
An eye opener for me
This book was heartbreaking and also so showed the love parents have for their children - I am proud to be Canadian as we are somewhat leading in harm reduction but I see now we have to do better. I truly had no idea about so many of the facets and nuances of addiction.
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- Chrissy
- 2024-01-01
The truth
do you people get it?!?!? actually get it?? this was all planned!! it's sickening... if you don't understand the pharmaceutical companies and the government were in on this from the beginning.. your blind... please this was the plan all along..
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- Amazon Customer
- 2021-04-03
Good intro on topic
Dopesick was a decent read, and I'm glad I read it. I didn't know anything about the Opioid Crisis before reading this book, and I now have a solid understanding of the issue, causes, and actions forward.
This book is 10% information and 90% stories of victims of the crisis. I found the author did a poor job connecting the reader with the victim's account and I found most of the book was a tad dry and unengaging.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Raccoon
- 2021-03-05
So sad
This true account of the opioid crisis brought to life the statistics that we hear on the news or see in the papers....it was heartbreaking and bleak
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1 person found this helpful
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- Tim Smart
- 2018-10-10
An incredible book with mind blowing facts
Thanks to the author for shining a light on this awful epidemic. The facts were interwoven through stories that humanized the issue we are dealing with in North America and how devastating it is to regular families.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Cassandra Schwarz
- 2018-10-14
Great Book
Very well written and informative. Heartbreaking and terrifying. Definitely worth the read and would recommend.
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2 people found this helpful
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- JohnS
- 2020-03-25
A narrative of tragic consequences of addiction
The so called 'war on drugs' is a 'war' that cannot and will never be won. This book goes a long way in confirming that assertion.
Aside from the individual stories throughout, there isn't much that is new if one follows current events and is aware of what goes on in one's neighbourhood. This point does not minimize the importance of this book. This is an important work that stands well against many others that cover the same general subject.
This is not a fun listen or read, but books of this nature are not intended to be. They are wake-up calls for all of us. Highly recommendable.
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- branden
- 2018-09-05
Great
loved it.. u gotta listen.. it hits home with a scientific approach.. let's see what else she puts out
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