An incisive, essential guide to understanding one of today's most urgent -- and complex -- problems.

The opioid epidemic is responsible for the first sustained decline in U.S. life expectancy since the 1960s. In 2017, more than 50,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose-to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands who live with some measure of opioid addiction every day.

The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know® is an accessible, nonpartisan overview of the causes, politics, and treatments tied to the most devastating health crisis of our time. Its comprehensive approach and Q&A format offer readers a practical path to understanding the epidemic from all sides. This includes:

· the basic science of opioids
· the nature of addiction
· the underlying reasons for the opioid epidemic
· effective approaches to helping individuals, families, communities, and national policy
· myths and common misunderstandings related to opioid addiction

Written by two expert physicians and enriched with stories from their experiences in the crosshairs of this epidemic, this book is a critical resource for any general reader -- and for the individuals and families fighting this fight in their own lives.