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Chris McGreal

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American Overdose: The Opioid Tragedy in Three Acts Kindle Edition

by Chris McGreal (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 318 ratings

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A comprehensive portrait of a uniquely American epidemic -- devastating in its findings and damning in its conclusions

The opioid epidemic has been described as "one of the greatest mistakes of modern medicine." But calling it a mistake is a generous rewriting of the history of greed, corruption, and indifference that pushed the US into consuming more than 80 percent of the world's opioid painkillers.

Journeying through lives and communities wrecked by the epidemic, Chris McGreal reveals not only how Big Pharma hooked Americans on powerfully addictive drugs, but the corrupting of medicine and public institutions that let the opioid makers get away with it.

The starting point for McGreal's deeply reported investigation is the miners promised that opioid painkillers would restore their wrecked bodies, but who became targets of "drug dealers in white coats."

A few heroic physicians warned of impending disaster. But American Overdose exposes the powerful forces they were up against, including the pharmaceutical industry's coopting of the Food and Drug Administration and Congress in the drive to push painkillers -- resulting in the resurgence of heroin cartels in the American heartland. McGreal tells the story, in terms both broad and intimate, of people hit by a catastrophe they never saw coming. Years in the making, its ruinous consequences will stretch years into the future.

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"American Overdoseconfirms Chris McGreal's stature as one of the truly essential reporters of our times. It is - in its investigative depth and documentary breadth - a riveting and urgent reckoning of colossal corruption that has taken such a staggering toll on twenty-first century American life."
―Philip Gourevitch, author of We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families

"In this gripping account, McGreal exposes the avarice and corruption that caused one of the most shocking crises in American history. A searing expose full of extraordinary characters - heroes, villains and victims."―Katty Kay, contributor MSNBC Morning Joe, presenter BBC World News America

"McGreal shows how the overdose crisis was driven by the pursuit of profits, not just drugs-both of which combine our instinctive craving for pleasure with our evolving capacity for denial and deceit. Fascinating, disturbing, impressively researched and elegantly written."―Marc Lewis, author of The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease

"With great reporting and compelling storytelling, American Overdose lays bare the tragedy of the opioid epidemic tearing at the soul of the United States. Those who want to understand the issue of narcotics and addiction have to read it."―Ioan Grillo, author of El Narco

"A deftly researched account of America's opioid epidemic. McGreal's book is authoritative in tone and vernacular in style....[A] powerful narrative."―Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"This urgent, readable chronicle, which names names and pulls no punches, clearly and compassionately illuminates the evolution of America's mass addiction problem."―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"McGreal, an award-winning journalist, presents this grim cautionary tale of opioids, greed, and addiction in three acts: 'Dealing,' 'Hooked,' and Withdrawal'.... McGreal goes on to successfully address the question of how the greatest drug epidemic in history grew largely unchecked for nearly two decades....What can be done to reverse this? McGreal's powerfully stated indictment is a start."―Booklist, Starred Review

"Thorough, gripping and excellent."―--The Straight Dope, Medium.com

"[A] powerful encapsulation of that epidemic....a timely examination of hard-won lessons."―Nature

"Staggering... Zola-esque in its dark twists and turns."―Ed Vulliamy, LiteraryReview

"[A] searing book... Appalachian accents and anger steam off the page."―TheSunday Times

"Compelling.... reads like a white-collar The Wire, with a cast of characters determined to exact as much money as possible regardless of the human cost."―The Observer

"An engaging, cogently argued book."―Evening Standard

"Astonishing... McGreal's book is forensic in its detailing and turns up some eye-popping examples."―Esquire UK

"McGreal provides a scorching exposé....Most important, American Overdose tells the story of institutional failure and corruption: among local officials, in federal agencies, the United States Congress, and the White House."―Psychology Todayonline

"Vivid reporting... [McGreal] explains in horrifying detail how this vision of a pain-free America - pharmacologically unrealistic to begin with - was subverted by a greedy combination of pharmaceutical companies, drug distributors, doctors and pharmacists, aided and abetted by complacent regulators and politicians."―Financial Times

"In American Overdose Chris McGreal of the Guardian looks unsparingly at the causes of the opioid crisis that kills tens of thousands of Americans a year."―The Economist

"A fast, accessible read for those trying to come to terms with a national nightmare."―Law & Crime

"An exposé that will have readers riveted from cover to cover."―GreenBay Press Gazette

"[A] powerful account ... American Overdose is a tale of bad decision making, greed and malfeasance that is still unfolding, and not one about which we can afford to be complacent."―Nick Hopkinson, British Medical Journal

"A detailed view of the corruption that enabled the spread of opiates to go unchecked by the healthcare industry, government or law enforcement."―London Review ofBooks

About the Author

Chris McGreal is a reporter for the Guardian and former journalist at the BBC. He was the Guardian's correspondent in Johannesburg, Jerusalem and Washington DC, and now writes from across the United States.

He has won several awards including for his reporting of the genocide in Rwanda, coverage of Israel/Palestine, and for writing on the impact of economic recession in modern America. He received the James Cameron prize for work as a journalist that has combined moral vision and professional integrity. He was awarded the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism for reporting that penetrated the established version of events and told an unpalatable truth.

He is a former merchant seaman.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07B8D6YYN
Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs; 1st edition (November 13, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 13, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2690 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1783351683

Best Sellers Rank: #851,392 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #100 in Pharmacology Pain Medicine
- #341 in Pain Medicine Pharmacology
- #563 in 21st Century History of the U.S.

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4.4 318 ratings

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Chris McGreal

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Chris McGreal is a reporter for the Guardian. A former correspondent in Johannesburg, Jerusalem and Washington DC, he now writes from across the United States.

He has won awards for his reporting of the Rwandan genocide, Israel/Palestine, and on the impact of economic recession in America. He received the James Cameron prize for "work as a journalist that has combined moral vision and professional integrity". He was awarded the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism for reporting that "penetrated the established version of events and told an unpalatable truth".

He is a former merchant seaman.

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Tim Bone

Best Book of Its Kind

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2019

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American Overdose lays out clearly, in chronological order, the origins and perpetuation of the opioid epidemic. The fallout in deaths, wrecked lives and the tens of thousands of children sent into foster care, with all the consequences for the next generation, is staggering. That the predictable and obvious greed and dishonesty of Big Pharma (especially Purdue Pharma) and drug distributors were simply left unchecked by the FDA, DEA, Congress, the Justice Department and a slew of other governmental agencies is infuriating. The opioid crisis could be Exhibit A in how government is for sale.

If you are going to read only one book on this crisis, this is the book to go with. The author does a masterful job. I would also recommend Dopesick and Dreamland as two others to read on this topic. Dreamland covers the conversion of opioid addiction to heroin addiction. Dopesick addresses more fully the human costs.

This whole thing is infuriating and was largely preventable or at least containable, but money was on the side of the perpetrators, not the victims.

21 people found this helpful

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Samantha

Happy lil’ lady 😇

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2023

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Hello, I am very happy with my purchase of this used=book. It arrived before it said it was. Even though, however, I did buy it used, it is used ex-library book( Which I love the way the covers and such are laminated from there), and is in great condition. I am very happy with my purchase. I will say I hav just received the book and have not actually read the book yet, as I am still working on the silent patient, it looks like a good book and I am very enthusiastic about reading it!
Thanks for reading!

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Chad M

A superb examination of the opioid crisis from its origins to the present time

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2020

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The market for pain medications increased in the 1990s and 2000s as both patients and lawyers relentlessly sued doctors and hospitals over supposedly inadequate medications. Some lawsuits had merit, many did not. When corporations went to the FDA with Oxycontin and other opioids, which were like heroin in a pill, the FDA allowed these medications (p. 43). While the treatments would have been fine for people with terminal cancer and during short hospital stays, a new industry of pill mills emerged, mostly in the rural South, Midwest, and Northeast (ex. p. 187). Yet as early as 2003 the New England Journal of Medicine found the problems with opioids (p. 92), Congress did not act, particularly during the Obama Presidency. Today, responses include re-licensing with new regulations for opioids at the FDA, enforcement, treatment, and broader social goals.

One of the "win-win" strategies for the opioid, meth, and other drug addiction crises would be increasing enrollment at community colleges, 4-year state universities, and technical schools. By keeping young adults active and involved in learning, gaining work skills, socially active with their peers, and by keeping tuition at the same levels over the next 10 years with increased state funding, the lives of millions or tens of millions of people would be improved. The trend of the last 30 years of reductions in funding for state universities and community colleges and increasing tuition to an average of $20,000 year has been one of the worst policy decisions by the legislatures and governors.

Restoring sufficient university funding could delivered by a new 3% to 5% income tax on earnings over $400,000, or a substantial fraction of that high income tax increase. Drug addiction often arises because of poverty, idleness, or carelessness. Giving people education and hope may be our best strategy. Most people age 18-25 are still learning about life. Good community colleges and state universities both educate and build character, and demonstrate the value of open communication, friendship, and teamwork along with every class. Time for the wealthy people to "Man Up" to the challenge and stop opposing every single tax proposal in Congress. Some taxes are unreasonable but to say all potential tax increases are not in the national interest is both a self-centered and untenable proposition.

2 people found this helpful

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C. Owley

Brilliant overview of how the U.S. got into the opioid epidemic of death

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2019

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This is the first comprehensive book I've read about the Opioid epidemic. I found the writing excellent and the story telling often riveting. It completely opened my mind to what has happened in the US and how the drug industry and especially the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma used false studies and fake commissions to co-op the FDA and so many groups and institutions that should have protected people. The book is also an indictment of a health system that allows profit to be far more important than patient care and brings out the very worst in healthcare industry. The book is a wake up call to America that it has a man-made epidemic of death and it is up to all of us to take action and save lives and our communities.

5 people found this helpful

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carilynp

An urgent read and powerful book

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2018

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An eyes-wide-opening look at the serious epidemic that is the opioid crisis. This is Chris McGreal’s powerful AMERICAN OVERDOSE: THE OPIOID TRAGEDY IN THREE ACTS. How big pharma introduced with a big bang, big bucks, as in a billion-dollar marketing campaign, doctors without scruples, pharmacists too, targeting small, rural towns, people in pain and not, young and old, with false information the FDA let slide and politicians who looked the other way, and brought OxyContin into the market. Got them hooked and took their money and lots of it.

People’s lives were destroyed. People’s lives were lost. And still are. And will be. This book explains it all in detail and you will never look at a pill in the same way. You will understand how this happened. Right here in our country. How innocent people were fooled into thinking because it’s a prescription, it was safe. Far from it.

This is an urgent book to read. Especially for innocent teenagers who are most prone to fall victim to the danger of drugs and their lethal bought-over-the-internet counterparts.

9 people found this helpful

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smaran Bhaktawara

A+ read

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2019

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I had to read this book for a summer assignment and I felt like any other kid and didnt want to do homework during summer. But I was really glad I read this book. Everyone uses the word eye opening snd that is how this book represents itself. They have a tiny bias and can seem to be off travk sometimes causing the book to have a slight sense of boredom but the information they give you is really good. They tell you a story that is almost masked and unknown and show that curing comes at a price.

2 people found this helpful

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Dee

A fantastic book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2023

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A great book that only increased my hatred of Big Pharma, who created this American tragedy by doling out copious quantities of opioid based pain killers, stating that they were non-addictive. This reached all levels of society from teenagers, soccer mums to professionals. The street price of these pills, needed in increased quantities, caused most to turn to cheaper heroin; first smoking and then injecting, causing the breakdown of thousands of families and inevitably, homelessness. The bigger tragedy is that any fine placed upon the drug companies was peanuts compared to the profits that they had made and that the USA government have done nothing whatsoever to help the poor victims.

Linda Volkert

Excellent seller

Reviewed in Canada on September 2, 2019

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This book arrived in new condition! Better than expected!

ghiglia

tres bon vendeur

Reviewed in France on March 1, 2019

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parfait

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P. A. Buchan

What a totally corrupt and money centric society the US has become.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2018

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It was the FDA that stopped the approval of the use of thalidomide in the US in the 60's though it was expected to be a rubber stamp. From that strong moral position it is now funded by Pharma companies who "help" write legislation and define what a clinical trial should be, how the out come should be presented. As long as money is being made, who cares. Lets help big companies make lots of money and some of it will come my way, seems to be the attitude these days.

As other reviewers have mentioned this book contains real stories from real people who go to a doctor as they have had an injury of some description, and are given such strong pain killers that they become addicted and no body cares. Anyone who complains to the public officials, who are their to protect and stand up for their interests, do nothing, because these officials rely on Pharmas money. If that isnt a corrupt system then what is?

I couldn't put this book down. I wanted to hear how people faught back, how people tried to make a stand. As one of the people in this book said "if 50,000 dolphins a year died on the coast of the US, Congress would do somthing about it," so why, when 50,000 people die from such strong pain killers does every one just stand and watch.

The whole sorry affair is laid out in this book and as i said you cant put it down. If this was a film you wouldnt believe it because you belive that people wouldn't behave like that, the authorities wouldnt let that happen. But they did, but as every big company who faces the loss of a market, just goes somewhere else, where do tobacco companies get their money from these days???? In the Uk there has been a rise in opiod use and addiction, we need to be careful or we will be going down the very same road. Learn from history or it repeats itself

3 people found this helpful

The Cognologist

Discover the roots of the opioid crisis

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2019

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This is a book about a tragedy caused by careless regulation: of medicines, of the selling of medicines and the prescribing of medicines. Over the past 100 years or so, people have become less tolerant of pain and discomfort and so have become easy prey when pain reduction expectations can be met with stronger and stronger meds. Covering the mal-administration of pain meds by the FDA, the book also takes us to the company that gamed the regulations for their own gain, thinking nothing of the wake of human tragedy left behind. It gives us deep insight into the behaviour of doctors and patients who together supplied and demanded these medications, creating a mutual dependency relationship that enriched the doctors and impoverished the patients. No where do we see the use of data monitoring to track early signs to trigger any review of the conduct of people who should have been paying attention to emerging trend data. And the story rumbles on. The book is a good primer on the subject.

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