The Age of Fentanyl: Ending the Opioid Epidemic

by Brodie Ramin

Is there a way to end North America’s opioid epidemic?



North America is facing a crisis. The first warning signs appeared in media reports of OxyContin abuse and over-prescription in the 1990s. Today, there is an opioid epidemic; fentanyl 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. Brodie Ramin discusses the disease and the cure.



Looking beyond the obstacles, The Age of Fentanyl brings the hopeful message that just as patients and health care workers rallied together to fight the HIV epidemic one generation ago, a coalition of patients, advocates, scientists, doctors, and nurses are finding solutions and making plans to stem the overdose deaths, block the spread of fentanyl, and end the epidemic.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

232 pages, Paperback

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.

[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.