Beyond the Prescription Pad: Inside the Exam Room of America's Pain and Opioid Crisis

Beyond the Prescription Pad takes readers inside real exam rooms where pain, policy, and humanity intersect. Written by frontline clinician Dr. Desmond Atem, this book explains why pain care is complex, how treatment decisions are made, and where opioids help-or cause harm. Grounded in science and clinical experience, it cuts through stigma and fear to offer a clearer, more humane understanding of America's pain and opioid crisis for patients, clinicians, and the general public.