Eau Claire, Wisconsin - Pharmacologist and author Barry I. Gold offers a measured and science-based perspective on one of the most urgent public health issues in his book We're Overdosed, published in paperback on November 1, 2022. Drawing from decades of professional experience, Gold outlines the complex development of opioid drugs and addresses the broader implications of both legal and illegal drug use.

We're Overdosed follows the journey of opium from ancient use to its modern derivatives, including morphine and synthetic opioids. With particular attention to the pharmaceutical industry's role, Gold explains how these substances moved from medical necessity to widespread overuse. The book tracks the global expansion of opioid production and discusses how this phenomenon has intersected with regulation, commerce, and social impact.

Gold's career spans both academia and the pharmaceutical industry. After earning a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Boston University and completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale, he taught medical pharmacology before managing international drug development projects at major pharmaceutical firms including Wyeth-Ayerst and BASF's Knoll Pharmaceutical Corp. These experiences inform the book's perspective on drug approval, marketing, and oversight, as well as the potential role of policy in reducing harm.

Rather than focusing solely on the failures of the past, Gold explores how federal legislation and international cooperation could contribute to meaningful control of opioid misuse. The book also touches on promising new approaches for treating addiction and calls attention to the urgent need for better tools in prevention and recovery.

Barry I. Gold has written for publications such as Woman's Day, History Magazine, Parent, and Ducts. He is also the author of Boomer Dad and The Fourth. Outside of writing, his personal life is centered in northern New Jersey, where he enjoys woodworking and baking bread. He is the father of two adult children and a teenager, and his reflections throughout the book are grounded in both scientific insight and lived experience.

With We're Overdosed, Gold offers a clear and structured look at how history, science, and policy converge in the opioid crisis. The book contributes to the ongoing conversation about how societies respond to addiction and what role informed policy might play in reducing its long-term effects. The book is available for sale on Amazon .

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