Bend Health WINTER EDITION 2017 | Page 21

Book Review Opium Eaters By Carlyn Zwarenstein North Americans are the world’s most compulsive and prolific opioid abusers. In a modern day twist of Thomas De Quincey’s “Confessions of an English Opium Eater”, writer Carlyn Zwarenstein recounts her search for relief from her tragic degenerative autoimmune disease “Ankylosing Spondylitis” a condition that is on the rise, an inflammatory arthritis that strikes people in the prime of their life, in her case 28 years old. This condition causes excruciating spine pain. Her tragic tale recounts her use of Tramadol with euphoric ups, hallucinatory lows and desperate pharmacy visits as her addiction sets in, all while balancing the demands of being a working mother. She researches the history of opioid use throughout history, pop culture and into our current Opioid Crisis, which began in the 1990s when Pharmaceutical companies heavily marketed so many varieties of Opioid Painkillers, once restricted, now encouraged for even the most minor injuries. Unintentional deaths due to Opioid addiction and overdose quadrupled within a single decade. 15 million people worldwide are currently dependent on opiates. North Americans are the world’s most compulsive and prolific opioid abusers. She speaks towards the end of her hope for alternatives, cannabis being the most promising. This book itself becomes an addiction, I found it hard to put it down, it goes so fast and then it leaves you wanting more! WINTER 2017 || BEND HEALTH GUIDE || 21