As of 2016, opioids kill more Americans each year than car crashes. When the street cost of highly addictive painkillers, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, becomes too high, users turn to much cheaper, drug-trafficked alternatives: heroin, or its even more lethal cousin, fentanyl. How did we get here? How can we stop it? What treatment options are available, and which are the most effective? Now, OVERCOMING OPIOID ADDICTION answers all of these critical questions and more. An urgently needed practical guide written for the general public by noted addiction psychiatrist Adam Bisaga, this is the most up-to-date, authoritative book on combating opioid use disorder (OUD). Brimming with actionable tips and expert advice, OVERCOMING OPIOID ADDICTION enables readers to take control of the disease wherever it may appear in their life, from finding resources to reversing an overdose. It digs into the history of the dependence on prescription painkillers and the subsequent shift to other opioids, demystifies treatment methods, and advises against the potential perils of unsupervised detoxification. Crucially, this book also serves as a guide for the families of addicts on how to recognize an overdose, get help for loved ones and encourage them to accept it, offer support when times are tough, and aid in their recovery. Ultimately, it helps readers understand substance abuse and relapse and helps build an encouraging environment for treatment that will stop overdoses before they occur. This book takes readers through each crucial step: how to get help, treat addiction, maintain health, and fight the opioid epidemic - once and for all.