The Preventable Epidemic

Every day, nearly 275 people are dying from opioid addiction in America. This doctor wants to stop the crisis. “I can’t retire. Not until the Opioid Epidemic finally becomes a chapter in our country’s history.” Over the past two decades, the opioid addiction has resulted in the deaths of nearly one million people in our country. Screening and brief intervention for addictions will mean fewer people dying from illegal overdose and ensure that patients get prescription-grade pain pills or buprenorphine from the pharmacy, but doctors are not taught this in American medical schools. In 2006, after years of feeling powerless to help those addicted to opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants, general practitioner Dr. Arun Gupta joined the American Society of Addiction Medicine and earned his certification to treat patients with addictions. Now, in his eye-opening new book, after decades of research and first-hand experience, he tells us how to end this crisis that is destroying so many lives. Here are some hard facts: • The CDC classifies Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and overdoses as “preventable,” and yet nearly 275 are dying every day. • SAMHSA says 41.1 million people needed Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment in the past year, but only 6.5% received it. There are not enough addiction doctors to care for them. • Doctors are trying to comply with the literally thousands of regulations that have been thrown at them, or they face serious punitive consequences. • Respecting an addict's basic human dignity means they must have access to treatment. If they do not, we confirm their lives are not worth saving. The medical profession is trusted to save lives. Passionate, factual, and written with truth as the only agenda, this book offers the practical solutions for the War on Drugs that American so desperately needs.