Beth Macy has been writing about addiction for decades, but her work got more attention than ever when she covered heroin addiction in a wealthy suburb of Virginia. Moved by the stories of people addicted to opioids, she wrote a bestseller about America’s opioid epidemic called Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America. The book has been adapted into a series for Hulu starring Michael Keaton.
Journalist Beth Macy was moved by the stories she reported about addiction. As she says in her interview with Derik Mills, “I’ve learned to pay attention to things that make the hair stand up on the back of my neck.” In her book Dopesick, she takes the reader into the epicenter of the nation’s opioid crisis. On the podcast, Beth shares her work process and some astounding statistics about the depth of the crisis. For example, in America, there is an 88% treatment gap, meaning that only 12% of people addicted to opioids have gotten treatment.
Beth and Derik discuss how drug addiction has been stigmatized. She shares some behind the scenes stories of filming the Hulu series based on her book, including her appearance in the show, and the fine acting work of Rosario Dawson, Michael Keaton, and Kaitlyn Dever.
If you are in the front lines in the opioid crisis and would like to get in touch with us to discuss how Glo can help, please email us at: podcast@glo.com
Dopesick the book
AM Gratitude for Addiction Recovery
Poise and Presence in Recovery
Forgiveness Floats the Boat in Recovery
If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get on Your Mat