In this book, scholars from various fields share their insights into the role of communication in combating the American opioid crisis. The introduction provides an overview of the development of the crisis followed by a discussion of the role of communication in fighting the crisis. Part I of the book (Chapters 2-5) addresses how the language used to frame chronic pain, opioid use disorder (OUD) and the opioid crisis by the media, healthcare professionals and the public has facilitated the formation of stigmas associated with OUD and individuals with OUD and what can be done to change it. Part II of the book (Chapters 6-8) focuses on how communication can help prevent opioid misuse. Chapters 6 and 7 discuss strategies that may be used to create effective anti-opioid campaigns. Chapter 8 explores the role that academic detailing (AD) plays in improving health care providers' compliance with the CDC's guidelines for prescribing opioids and strategies for increasing the effectiveness of AD. Part III of the book (Chapters 9-10) explains how to use communication to improve OUD treatment and support individuals with OUD. Chapter 9 highlights the importance of patient-centered communication and patient navigators to OUD treatment. Chapter 10 analyzes the self-help program for individuals with OUD utilized by Narcotics Anonymous and offers suggestions for improvement. In conclusion, this book demonstrates that communication can help end the American opioid crisis by promoting prevention, removing barriers (e.g., stigmas), and improving treatment and support for individuals with OUD. The insights offered in this book will appeal to diverse readers including students of communication, persuasion and psychology, and health science; as well as campaign designers, healthcare providers, journalists, policy makers, social workers and the general public.

Xiaoxia Cao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She serves on the editorial board of the leading health communication journal, Health Communication. Her research interests include health communication, media effects, persuasion, media psychology, and strategic communication. Her most recent research explored the influence of message features and audience characteristics on the effectiveness of anti-prescription opioid messages and mechanisms underlying such influence.