"In this text, Goldsmith tackles the havoc and tragedies caused by opioid and heroin addiction in the United States. As she explains, this type of addiction has manifested into every socio-economic stratum of society and is impacting lives all across the country. Goldsmith begins by providing an historical perspective of addiction in America, along with discussing the differences between stimulant and depressive drugs. She explains the different types of drugs and the various ways they take hold of the addicted person and reshape their brain chemistry. Famous and non-famous people who have been caught in the throes of addiction are profiled, showing how their lives were impacted by their drug choices and how they survived or succumbed to their addiction. The focus then turns to how addicts move from prescription to street drugs, and what role the medical community plays in the addiction process. The last portion of the book is devoted to recovery programs, the pros and cons of recovery drugs, and the prospects of recovery for long time addicts. Addiction and Overdose is a well-constructed, comprehensive text.

Goldsmith delivers information in small, informative pieces, not overwhelming the reader with statistics and jargon. The topics are thoughtfully arranged and the sections flow well from one segment to the next. The text provides resources for those wanting to dig deeper into specific topics. This is a much-needed book for public and school libraries as Goldsmith shows that opioid addiction is happening all across the nation in growing numbers."--VOYA.