Will I love Dopesick?

It’s hard to say I love this book because it is not an easy book to read—even though I read it compulsively.

Beth Macy is a great journalist who spent years covering the opioid crisis as it was developing. It is tricky to turn social ills into narratives in non-fiction, but Macy doesn’t use cheap tricks to grab her readers by the throat.

Her research and compassion—and well-placed anger—drive this investigation of a terrible epidemic driven by greed. Yet Macy paints with a nuanced brush, delving into the complexity of modern life that paved the way for this heartbreaking and… show more.

Reading a book about people taking prescribed drugs end up being swallowed whole by addiction is heartbreaking. Realizing how easily kids can fall into that trap is terrifying. Knowing that much of that agony is fueled by aggressive profit-seeking is infuriating. Amidst the pain of this well-told story are heroes fighting to stop the onslaught. It reminds us that on the knife’s edge of life, it’s way too easy to fall to either side.   

Macy’s bestselling book also became an award-winning Hulu limited TV series of the same name. Macy also co-wrote the screenplay and has a cameo in one of the eight episodes. She is a former features writer with The Roanoke Times, a Virginia newspaper. A lot of the book is set in small communities not far from Macy’s hometown. Dopesick is a gut-wrenching tale of the ruin and devastation that drug companies left behind. I’ve been so impressed with Macy’s compassion for people struggling with addiction. Her book hits all facets of the opioid scourge. This is an essential read… show more.