Epidemic: Growing Up In Pharmaceutical America

by Lonnie Jay

"This book will blow your mind! The amount of research and insight puts it in a class of its own. Couldn’t put it down. So authentic and raw, loved it!" - Amazon reviewerI'm writing these books because I'm tired of watching my friends die. Everything that we have done in America to deal with the opioid epidemic has made us drastically worse, and people don't seem to realize it.Irresponsible, profit-mongering pharmaceutical companies created millions of addicts like me. By becoming acquainted with the power and peace that a pocketful of oxy can bring an anxious teenager, readers will begin to understand exactly how so many of us got hooked on oxy, and how oxy serves as a gateway to criminal behavior and other drugs.Readers will also come to understand why the criminal justice system makes so many of us even worse, as you join me in flashbacks to my arrest-laden adolescence. You'll also join me in Phoenix, AZ in 2018, as I run my 'fentoxy' business and deal with the IV drug addictions that replaced the Adderall and oxy of my youth. This will give you an intimate look at the opioid monstrosity in its' current form, as oxy has been replaced by fentanyl and crooked doctors have been replaced by a new generation of highly intelligent, internet-saavy, rehab-addicted, drug-dealing kids that just can't get straight - no matter how hard we pray.I'm desperate to help people understand why the opioid epidemic is only getting worse. Most people have outdated and stereotypical ideas when it comes to the experiences of addiction and recovery. It's time that people find out the truth. I might have survived the criminal justice system and the revolving-door treatment centers that are replacing it, but many did not, and many more will die if nothing changes.Proceeds from these books will go towards bringing yoga therapy to those suffering from addictive disorders.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2020

Reviews

[Sara Witmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started reading a few years ago and only got halfway. Picked it back up and finally finished. Mixed reviews about this book, which is why I probably didn’t finish it the first time. The book is raw, non filtered which makes it appealing but it also comes off as disorganized. There are times when he’s recalling a past dialogue but then goes off on a 6 paragraph tangent. Also his strong disdain for the criminal justice system comes off immature and “pouty”. He had potential to sway the readers or educate them about the systems flaws, but instead the way he went about it wasn’t tasteful.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Addicts mindset, for those who are uninitiated

This book is amazing. For addicts and non addicts alike. It gives a raw and unfiltered take on addiction, humanity, and the justice system.
There is no preaching from atop a glass pedestal, just a direct and unflinching view into the underbelly of society.
Lonnie will transport you from wherever you are to his condo in Scottsdale from the opening pages of this book.

[Meghan Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really did a good job explaining how he went from a young child and into the world of drugs and addiction. Would recommend to anyone trying to learn about the epidemic we currently live in

[Alyssa Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a person from this generation who has experienced and watched pharmaceutical America affect even my small town, this book was difficult to put down and at the same time, difficult to read. It is very candid about drug use/abuse, and while I have recommended the book to some friends, there are some who are in early recovery and may be triggered by the very accurate descriptions. It follows the path that I have seen too many of my friends take, and not everyone lives to tell the tale. Thank you, Lonnie, for writing this book for all of us.