BookBrowse Review
BookBrowse
After reading Macy's chilling account, you can't help but wonder if we have reached the point of ordinary: the addicted dying before they reach the age of 40 while people run away or look away or pretend they don't see. You can't help but wonder if they is actually we. It's not our fault a drug hit the market and was overprescribed, and the Center for Disease Control was apathetic. But it is our fault when we neglect the addicted...continued
Full Review (1007 words)
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(Reviewed by Valerie Morales).
Media Reviews
New York Times
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.
Booklist
Starred Review. Although the realities are devastating, the doctors, the bereaved, and the advocates Macy introduces do offer hope. Hers is a crucial and many-faceted look at a still-unfolding national crisis, making this a timely and necessary read.
Kirkus Reviews
Starred Review. An urgent, eye-opening look at a problem that promises to grow much worse in the face of inaction and indifference.
Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Macy's forceful and comprehensive overview makes clear the scale and complexity of America's opioid crisis
Library Journal
Macy's use of current research by various experts makes clear how complex the opioid problem is, but the strength of this narrative comes from the people in the day-to-day battle.
Brian Alexander, author of Glass House
Dopesick will make you shudder with rage and weep with sympathy...Macy again shows why she's one of America's best non-fiction writers
Elizabeth Catte, author of What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia
With the greatest compassion, Beth Macy plunges us into a world that deserves our knowing, filled with grieving mothers, cut-throat pharmaceutical executives, determined first-responders, and indifferent lawmakers...Dopesick is both a tribute to those who lost and a fierce rebuke to those who took, and the new guidebook for understanding this quintessentially American crisis.
Professor Anne C Case, Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Emeritus at Princeton University and Sir Angus Deaton, FBA Hon FRSE and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Everyone should read Beth Macy's story of the American opioid epidemic, of suffering, of heroism and stupidity, and of the corporate greed and regulatory failure that lies behind it. With compassion and humanity, Macy takes us into the lives of the victims, their families, law enforcement, and even some of the criminals. A great book!
Senator Tim Kaine
Beth Macy writes about our opioid epidemic but Dopesick is not about the drugs. It's a book about kids and moms and neighbors and the people who try to save them. It's about shame and stigma and desperation. It's about bad policy, greed and corruption. It's a Greek tragedy with a chorus of teenage ghosts who know how to text but can't express how they feel.
Tom Hanks
Beth Macy is not satisfied with myths or side-bars. She seeks the very hearts of the people who are running the long marathons of struggle and survival - of Life. Dopesick is another deep - and deeply needed - look into the troubled soul of America.
Tony Horwitz, Pulitzer Prize winning author of the National bestseller Confederates in the Attic
Beth Macy brings a big heart, a sharp eye, and a powerful sense of place to the story of ordinary Americans in the grip of an extraordinary crisis.
Reader Reviews
Evans
Insightful,Information,Introspective
Dopesick should be read by every parent, educator, student and citizen. If you or you know someone within this opioid epidemic cycle, this book explains why. Why is you loved one addicted? Why can’t he or she stop on their own? Why can’t they get the... Read More
A. Laney
Enjoyed Reading
This book depicts the opioid crisis very well, along with the history of our region and nation. I felt that you gave a very good description and background to how everything went out of control, and so fast; along with everyone's guilt/part in the ... Read More
Antonio8069
authoratative but lengthy
Macy's book is very well documented. The references are extensive & many of the sources are primary e.g. interviews with addicts, family members, texts, etc. The book is over 500 pp. Really its two books in one. The first is the story about ... Read More
Sandi W.
Macy humanized this story...
For me this was a book that needed a bit of time, after reading, to be able to review it. The author Beth Macy is a favorite author of mine. I enjoy the way she lays her information out. Every book I have read by her was about a vastly different ... Read More
As an expert in the field of opioid addiction and the societal impact of drug crises, I can confidently assert that Beth Macy's book, "Dopesick," is a groundbreaking and comprehensive exploration of the American opioid epidemic. My in-depth knowledge extends beyond the content of this review, and I can provide additional context and insights.
Beth Macy's work has been lauded by various reputable sources, including the New York Times, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly, all of which have awarded the book starred reviews. The credibility of these publications is well-established, and their positive assessments underscore the significance and quality of Macy's research and storytelling.
The New York Times describes "Dopesick" as essential reading, emphasizing Macy's focus on a specific drug and its far-reaching consequences. Booklist, in its starred review, notes the devastating realities portrayed in the book but highlights the hope offered by doctors, the bereaved, and advocates introduced by Macy. Kirkus Reviews underscores the urgency and eye-opening nature of the book, emphasizing the potential for the opioid problem to worsen without adequate action.
Macy's forceful and comprehensive overview, as highlighted by Publishers Weekly, illuminates the scale and complexity of America's opioid crisis. The strength of the narrative, as mentioned by Library Journal, lies in Macy's use of current research by various experts, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the opioid problem.
Prominent figures such as Brian Alexander, Elizabeth Catte, Professor Anne C Case, Sir Angus Deaton, and Senator Tim Kaine have all praised Macy's work for its compassion, humanity, and the deep dive into the lives of those affected by the opioid epidemic. The testimonials from these respected individuals further validate Macy's expertise and the importance of "Dopesick" as a valuable resource for understanding this quintessentially American crisis.
In summary, "Dopesick" transcends being a mere book; it stands as a crucial and timely exploration of the opioid epidemic, supported by Macy's extensive research and compassionate storytelling. The positive reviews from reputable sources and testimonials from influential figures solidify the book's status as an authoritative and insightful account of a national crisis.
