Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic

Dreamland by Sam Quinones is a riveting account of the opioid epidemic that has ravaged small towns and suburbs across America. The book traces the origins of the crisis to the 1990s, when Purdue Pharma aggressively marketed OxyContin, a highly addictive painkiller, while a surge of cheap, potent heroin from Mexico flooded the market. Through compelling narratives and in-depth reporting, Quinones exposes the devastating impact of these twin epidemics on communities, weaving together stories of pharmaceutical pioneers, Mexican entrepreneurs, and the people whose lives have been torn apart by addiction. Quinones's investigative journalism provides a stark look at the corrosive threat facing America's heartland, offering a revealing account of how capitalism run amok has led to one of the most severe public health crises in recent history. With a novelist's storytelling ability, the book introduces a memorable cast of characters and shows how these interconnected tales fit together to create a national tragedy.