When Painkillers Become Dangerous: What Everyone Needs to Know About OxyContin and other Prescription Drugs [Paperback]

Drew Pinsky M.D. (Author), Marvin D. Seppala M.D. (Author), Robert J. Meyers Ph.D. (Author), John Gardin Ph.D. (Author), William White M.A. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2004

Americans, it seems, have a history of self-medicating for pain. The high profile and increasingly widespread cases of prescription pain medication abuse that we're seeing today serve as the latest chapter in America's long-standing love/hate relationship with painkilling drugs. In this fascinating, informative, and timely book, Dr. Drew Pinsky and other leading experts in the fields of addiction and recovery discuss why Americans are using drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin, how American's used and abused other painkillers in the past, what makes some people vulnerable to addiction, and how to get help for yourself or a family member in trouble with drugs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though OxyContin provides effective, long-acting relief from pain, it has its dark side, Rush Limbaugh’s addiction being only one of the examples of it. OxyContin is an opioid and thus addictive, and if used in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs, it can be deadly. Pinsky, an expert in chemical dependency and co-host of MTV’s Loveline, offers a sober and plainly written introduction to OxyContin and other new painkillers, including how they work and how they are abused. In a brief but comprehensive overview, Pinsky, along with several other experts, explains how painkillers mimic our own endorphins, how addiction affects the brain and how it can be treated (simple abstinence is not enough). He also offers advice to those who think a friend or family member might be addicted and describes the role of family in addiction and treatment. With its clear writing, short, easily absorbed sections and the expertise of its contributors, this is a highly useful and supportive guide.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Drew Pinsky, M.D., is program medical director of chemical dependency services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, California. He is co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show Loveline and the long-running MTV program of the same name. He is author of the best-selling book Cracked: Putting Lives Together Again. Dr. Pinsky is a correspondent for ABC News, Good Morning America, and a regular contributor for CNN. When he is not spending time with his wife Susan and their eleven-year-old triplets he lectures throughout the country and can be seen frequently providing commentary for television talk shows.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden; 1 edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159285107X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592851072
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow., August 2, 2004

By 

Andrea (Indianapolis, In.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Painkillers Become Dangerous: What Everyone Needs to Know About OxyContin and other Prescription Drugs (Paperback)

I cannot find enough words to say about this book. I have been waiting for months for it to come out and it's just amazing. I've known for a while that my mother was addicted to pain meds, but had no idea just how addicted she was until i read this book. I bought this at 9pm on friday night... and by 1am I had read almost the whole book. It is very easy to read (with the minimum of hard to understand doctor jibberish) and it draws a very crystal clear line of knowning addiction from need. (my grandmother needs her pain meds, my mother does not) She has nearly every tell-tail sign of addiction!
Amazing job Drew Pinsky! Thanks to you and the other specialists who made the effort to make this book that is like no other! I commend your efforts and really appriciate the book!
A.D
Indianapolis In.
[e-mail]

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting - I loved it!, August 16, 2006

By 

Stephen R. Stalvey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Painkillers Become Dangerous: What Everyone Needs to Know About OxyContin and other Prescription Drugs (Paperback)

First, if you have read Dr. Drew's book "Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Back Together" then I would recommend this book if you are further interested addiction.

This book definitely has a different tone, as some of the other reviews complain, but don't let that turn you away! It may not be a compassionate look into a doctor's world of addiction treatment, but it's not meant to be. This book is a nice introduction to addiction, how it happens, how treatment works, and how it is genetic. It's meant more as a reference for people who struggle with addiction through a family member, friend, etc and not as something to be necessarily entertaining.

The reason I rated this book a four is because of some of the terminology thrown around in it. If not familiar with the brain structure and some basic psychology, this book may have some people doing a little more research for a better understanding. Though, if you want to learn about addiction and many of the concepts emerging today, this is a great book and has many great references included in it.

Another note, this is not a Dr. Drew book entirely. This book is simply composed of six different writers (Drew included) who discuss many different aspects of addiction.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not what I was looking for, June 6, 2010

By 

T. Fowler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When Painkillers Become Dangerous: What Everyone Needs to Know About OxyContin and other Prescription Drugs (Paperback)

This details all kinds of drugs and describes dosing, overdosing, and the prevalence of abuse. It has a a textbook feel.