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Dreamland
400 pages, 2016
history
999 books
economics & politics
987 booksIn 1929, in the blue-collar city of Portsmouth, Ohio, a company named Dreamland built a swimming pool the size of a football field. It became the vital center of the community. Now, addiction has devastated Portsmouth, as it has hundreds of small rural towns and suburbs across America.
How that happened is the riveting story of Dreamland. Quinones explains how the rise of the prescription drug OxyContin, a miraculous and extremely addictive painkiller pushed by pharmaceutical companies, paralleled the massive influx of black tar heroin--cheap, potent, and originating from one small county on Mexico's west coast, independent of any drug cartel.
Introducing a memorable cast of characters--pharmaceutical pioneers, young Mexican entrepreneurs, narcotics investigators, survivors, teens, and parents--Dreamland is a revelatory account of the massive threat facing America and its heartland.
In Dreamland, Sam Quinones explores the roots of the opioid crisis in America. He traces it back to the aggressive marketing of OxyContin by Purdue Pharma in the 1990s. This is a great chance to understand how a health crisis can be triggered by corporate greed.
Quinones also digs into the role of black tar heroin, a cheaper and more potent form of the drug, in the opioid crisis. He shows how Mexican drug traffickers exploited the growing addiction to prescription painkillers in the US. It's a fascinating look into the dark side of the drug trade.
Dreamland doesn't just focus on the big picture. It also takes a close look at how the opioid crisis has devastated small towns across America. Quinones paints a vivid picture of communities torn apart by addiction. It's a sobering reminder of the human cost of this crisis.
One of the key takeaways from Dreamland is the power of storytelling. Quinones uses personal stories to bring the opioid crisis to life. These stories make the book more than just a piece of investigative journalism. They make it a deeply human exploration of a national tragedy.
Finally, Dreamland emphasizes the need for solutions to the opioid crisis. Quinones doesn't just point out the problems. He also explores potential ways to address them, from better regulation of prescription drugs to more effective addiction treatment. It's a call to action that we can all learn from.
Quotes 5
Dreamland is a revealing book that explores the opioid crisis in America. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to understand this complex issue.
Bill Gates - Microsoft Co-founderDreamland is a masterful work that paints a haunting picture of the opioid epidemic. It's a powerful and necessary read.
Beth Macy - Journalist, AuthorDreamland is a compelling and insightful exploration of the opioid crisis. It's a book that everyone should read.
Patrick Radden Keefe - Investigative JournalistDreamland is a profound examination of the opioid crisis. It's a book that is both enlightening and heartbreaking.
Eric Eyre - Pulitzer WinnerDreamland is a deeply moving and illuminating book about the opioid crisis. It's a book that is both informative and thought-provoking.
Terry Gross - Radio Host
