Opioid misuse is now a worldwide epidemic and major public health issue with widespread implications. This fascinating book provides a collection of compelling arguments on how the course of the opioid epidemic can be changed. It offers an overview of the historical origins of opioid addiction, a summary of the current state of the worldwide epidemic and an examination of the likelihood of success for current and proposed solutions. Specific chapters focus on why some people are affected by addiction, the effect of policy and regulations, changing trends in opioid use, detoxification, the financial cost of addiction treatment, and proactive measures to prevent addiction. Drawing upon both past and current academic research as well as personal accounts, ideas and concepts are presented in a clear and accessible narrative. This book is a convenient single source of information for healthcare professionals, students and individuals personally affected by opioid addiction.
Foreword; Preface; Part I. The Origins of Addiction: 1. A Brief History of Opioid Misuse and Addiction; 2. Why Do Some People Become Addicted to Opioids while Others Don't?; 3. How Culture, Religion, and Society Impact Opioid Addiction; 4. The Effect of Policy and Governmental Regulations on the Opioid Epidemic; Part II. Recognizing That a Problem Exists: 5. Current Data and Worldwide Opioid Misuse Statistics; 6. Changing Trends in Opioid Misuse; 7. The Actual Cost of the Opioid Epidemic; 8. The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Healthcare Infrastructure; Part III. The Treatment Plan: 9. Detoxification: How Do We Get Ourselves Off Opioids?; 10. Outpatient Treatment Modalities; 11. The True Cost of Opioid Addiction Treatment; 12. Harm Reduction, Legal Issues, Drug Court and Other Alternatives to Discipline; Part IV. Recovery: 13. Stopping the Cycle of Relapse; 14. Re-thinking Anti-Drug Policies and Changing Drug Education; 15. Proactive Measures to Prevent Opioid Addiction; 16. Can We Make Opioid Use Less Dangerous?
Ethan O. Bryson is a Professor in both the Department of Anaesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Christine Boxhorn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Reviews for The Opioid Epidemic: Origins, Current State and Potential Solutions
'This book has an incredibly wide audience as it is written so a layperson will understand, while a medical professional will improve their knowledge in the disease and its management. ... This book is unique with no other similar text available.' Robert R. Gaiser, Doody's Reviews