Finally, I would like to dedicate this article to Mark, my 25-year-old, athletic father-to-be who accidentally overdosed on heroin long before his baby was born. May your child grow up in an America that rids itself of this drug nightmare long before he is old enough to know what drug addiction means. Rest in peace, Mark.
Dr. Hester is a hospitalist at Baltimore-Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie, Md. She is the creator of the Patient Whiz, a patient-engagement app for iOS. Reach her at healthsavvy@aol.com.