Dopesick Discussion 3: Chapter 10 to Chapter 13

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Discussion 3:

In these remaining chapters of the book, the author hones in on the cyclic process of addiction recovery. The individuals we follow, Tess, Joey, and others, struggle over and over to achieve sobriety, with the support and aid of family and volunteer “angels.” We also learn about the underlying forces which lure individuals into drug dealing through Ronnie Jones’ experience of being unable to fully leave the cycle of crime, poverty and incarceration. While there are numerous solutions proposed to address the opioid epidemic, many of the stakeholders have vastly differing views on what the best solution looks like, but the only people who suffer as a result of this disunity are those living with addiction. The author discusses the need to address the root causes of addiction and drug dealing, not necessarily just pain, but the lack of adequate community and societal support to prevent the impoverished from slipping through the cracks of the system.

Consider the following:

1. Are you familiar with the SMART recovery model for addiction recovery? How can this model be related to the “liminal phase” described by Jamie in chapter 10?

2. What does the author have to say about the approaches of law enforcement compared to medical professionals in addressing the opioid epidemic?

How do they differ? How are they similar?

3. In chapter 10, medical professionals, social workers, and law enforcement are shown as having a wide spectrum of opinions on the usefulness of medication-assisted treatments (MAT) for opioid addiction–what stood out to you the most in the author’s discussion of these opinions?

4. How did the Affordable Care Act impact the ability to access addiction treatment for those battling opioid treatment? Does healthcare access more broadly impact addiction treatment for the individuals whose stories are told in this section?

5. How do you think Medicaid expansion might have changed access to medication-assisted treatment?

6. How did the author’s use of anecdotes and individuals’ stories impact your understanding of the opioid crisis?

7. Does the author adequately address race in her discussion of underlying factors shaping the current opioid epidemic as well as the community-level, state-level, and federal-level responses to the epidemic?


Final thoughts: what did this book do well in its portrayal and analysis of the opioid epidemic? What are some areas it could improve?