The Age of Fentanyl: Ending the Opioid Epidemic

by Brodie Ramin

Dr. Brodie Ramin brings the story of the opioid epidemic into the era of fentanyl, which is the leading cause of overdose death in North America. From his perspective as an addiction doctor working on the front lines of the epidemic, Dr. Ramin discusses the disease and the cure.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Health

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2020

Reviews

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much information. Goes along with the book I previously read DOPESICK. If you work in Substance Abuse, mental health or just have an interest in the Opioid Epidemic you will learn a lot!

[OjoAusana · Rating 5 out of 5]

sadly borrowed this a week prior to my friend dying from fentanyl, took me a while to be able to read this book, was very hard but a important read.

[Reese Gaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward analysis of the opioid epidemic in North America, its causes, its history, and possible solutions.

[TheWuwei · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks for this book, let me real understand why people addiction, and how their devestating situations is. ,before that I never understand why such developed country have people give up themselves and sacrifies the people they love(though I understand other counter how the bottom people live). before that I never realize the teens/adults are the most vunerable ones and also the ones easily to be neglected in the society(we think a lot of kids,old,pregnants,disalbed but not the ones we usually think that have capability and competance also need care).

The book focus on the drug addition and most related to desperate situation ,I have deep impression about the handprints of the dead people due to addition, as well as the person who withdrawing but more easily to die due to overdose , from my heart they should be the ones can overcome it and success and still alive,they should be respected due to such big courage to withdraw , since if i were them I can't promise i have such brave to withdrawl it .. but we should not let it go as it is, instead should control at quite beginning.. from a smaller bad habit before you realize..

I am an ordinary people , aournd me no one have drug additions or I don't know at least , but many more including me have other kind of "additions " and endanger our health , we realize but not able to change it , how similar like the drug additions fundamentally but you never realize it until have more sense.. like around me I know people addiction of tea , result in anemia and maintain better by using Iron or infusion Iron ,people addition of junk food to have diabetes , people addition of short videos/games waste of time and harm their health, for others , may don't have those , but they are more easily to have depression due to thinking more , when they realize it already can't control the mind ... all these need to pay attention , since these are widely among most people , and hard to detect until you already not easily to get rid of it.

we need some sense/guide , but all of these need our own awareness/highlights ahead , before realize the hiddened addition, reading some books may help .. so this book is good and give me a lot of thoughts and triggers me to think a lot

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

My local library included this book in a display called "Understanding Addiction" - bless those librarians, who know our small community is hurting rom a recent string of overdoses. This book, by an addictions doctor from Ottawa, is a clear-eyed and matter-of-fact discussion of the history of the opioid epidemic and especially the rise of fentanyl overdoses in the last few years.

I appreciated the mix of research and evidence with personal stories from clients Ramin has seen in his clinic. I was also grateful for a book that delves into the Canadian experience, since the health care ecosystem is so different here than in the U.S.

Two elements of the book that I think detracted from it a little: one, at times I found the tone almost too clinical. I know this must be just part of the job as a doctor, but what must the emotional toll be to work as an addictions doctor and see so much death and pain around you? The patient stories were welcome, but they were brief and I wanted to know more. Two: there were a few threads in the book that led nowhere - a reference to a shooting in Toronto that seemed quite unconnected to the point at hand; another mention of a patient story that would be coming later that never did. Seemed like editorial oversights to me.

Overall, though, an important and interesting book that helped me understand a bit more of what members of my community with drug addiction face, and how we might better help them. I'm glad I read it, and I feel less hopeless now about the opioid crisis knowing that there are solutions out there.

[Colton Brydges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this book given my own experiences volunteering in Ottawa's shelter system and seeing the impact of the opioid epidemic firsthand. I was excited to read Dr. Ramin's take, and this book did not disappoint.

Quite an accessible read; there is some medical lingo but it is still readable for the layperson. A fairly short read, Ramin traces the origins of the opiod epidemic, treatment options, and public policy choices that can be used to address opioid addiction in our society. The text is interspersed with stories from the author's own patients to put a human face on the epidemic.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable, easy read. One thing I noticed is that a lot of the statistics in the book were for the United States, and I had hoped for a bit more of the Canadian perspective to come through. Ramin also didn't delve much into the role of organized crime, particularly originating in Asia, in the production and distribution of illicit opioids. Not a major flaw, but this would have been useful additional detail.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for anyone new to the harm reduction world. It teaches the history of drug use, talks about signs and symptoms of addiction, highlights trauma and homelessness, and speaks of withdrawal. I found it to be a very balanced approach, well researched but written at a level which anyone could understand. I appreciated the personal connections while also looking at the intersections between drug use with the health care system, corrections and mental health. A truly eye opening Canadian perspective which shows the severity of the opioid epidemic.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I could make one request to authors of books like these, it would be to refrain from describing a fix in such sensual detail, bearing in mind that some of their readers would most likely be former users themselves in search of help for their loved ones currently struggling with addiction. This book isn't the worst offender by any means, but its definitely such a commonality I could almost wonder if it were intentional. At any rate, definitely not necessary to the purpose of the book.

[Toby Mustill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that sheds light on the fentanyl pandemic from start to where we are now. Brodie does a brilliant job of explaining the origins of opioids, why they became a big of a problem as they have been and finally, explains succinctly the way out of this problem. A very interesting book and worth the read!

[Gayle Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a comprehensive yet easy to understand overview of our current opioid crisis in North America. It is written by an Ottawa based addiction medicine physician. I highly recommend if you are at all interested in homelessness, addiction and mental health.

[Beckie Maronde Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me awhile to get through due to other obligations, but it was a great follow up to Dreamland. More people need to educate themselves about substance addiction and the connection to mental health. It’s not taught enough in our schools as well.

[Desiree 🧚‍♀️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally review nonfiction but this one deserves it. Will probably have to reread to fully grasp everything though.

[The Book Distiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fascinating read. An important book.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but misleading. I was looking for something specifically on the fentanyl epidemic but this more broad on opiates with less than 30 percent content on fentanyl. Poor selling and title

[Hannah G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read “Undoing Drugs” by Maia Szalavitz instead for a more comprehensive look at the opioid crisis and harm reduction.

[DJ Meunier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super good informative read.

Recommended.