April 24, 2025

The Opioid Epidemic: Stephen’s Story

This documentary was created by the family members of Stephen, who overdosed on July 9th, 2018. After experiencing a traumatic event, Stephen began to struggle immensely with substance abuse, particularily with heroin, an opioid, and ultimately lost his life. His family discusses not only Stephen’s battle with mental health and addiction, but also the family’s history as well. From the impact of trauma, dual diagnosis / comorbidity, to family history, you’ll get to hear from Stephen’s family members on the impact he had on their lives and how an opioid overdose had fatal consequences.
April 24, 2025

New York City’s Opioid Drug History: A Relentless Cycle

Using an opioid for a pain relief drug has a long history in New York City, where they were introduced as unregulated medicine: doctors began prescribing morphine pills to housewives in the 1880s. Journalist Christopher Booker uncovers New York’s history with opioids – from plant-based morphine, opium and heroin to lab-produced drugs like fentanyl – in a half-hour film about drug addiction, medical treatment, and drug criminalization over the course of decades. [Taken from YT description]
April 24, 2025

The Opioid Crisis – It Impacts Us All

The opioid crisis — ranging from prescription painkillers to heroin and fentanyl — claims a life every 11 minutes in the United States, with at least five deaths each day in Florida alone. The likelihood of dying from an accidental opioid overdose has now surpassed that of dying in a car crash.. This is the story of one community determined to challenge these devastating statistics and fight back against an opioid epidemic tearing lives apart. Told through the voices of victims, front-line heroes, and dedicated community partners, it’s a powerful tale of pain, loss, and hope in Orange County, Florida.
April 24, 2025

Fentanyl: The Drug Deadlier than Heroin (VICE)

In 2015, nearly 300 people in Alberta lost their lives to fentanyl, with many of these fatalities linked to counterfeit, non-pharmaceutical pills. VICE offers an intimate and immersive feature film that delves into the fentanyl crisis in Canada, told through the lens of a community of drug users.
April 24, 2025

Kensington: Inside America’s Largest Open-Air Drug Market

Peter Santello creates “videos about a world the media fails to capture” (source). In this video, he travels to Kensington, Philadelphia to speak with a local man named Buddy Osborn, who reached out to him to tell him about “the horrific realities of open-air drug markets.” Buddy and his organization, The Rock, help “to get kids out of crime and drugs and into a healthier environment built upon confidence and clarity.”
April 24, 2025

A Second Shot: Drug Addiction in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has one of the highest drug addiction rates in the world, with the Taliban estimating that around four million people are affected nationwide. Babrak, a former mujahideen fighter, was once part of this struggle. Now, he’s dedicated to helping others detox at one of the capital’s underfunded drug rehabilitation centers. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, international aid has been withdrawn, and public services are on the brink of collapse. Despite these challenges, Babrak and a small team of medical staff continue to offer hope as the Taliban's harsh anti-drug policies are enforced.
April 24, 2025

Viewing Recovery Through a Trauma-Informed & Gender Responsive Lens

This webinar explores the connection between gender, trauma, and addiction by using a trauma-informed and gender responsive lens. It seeks to address the specific needs of trauma survivors by helping them break free of the shame and stigma associated with relapse. The goal is to provide an approach that allows “women to feel safe, connected, and empowered to thrive and flourish on their limitless journey toward healing and wholeness.”
April 24, 2025

Coming KLEAN: Stories of Overcoming Addiction

This documentary follows the journeys of individuals who have confronted and overcome addiction. Through distinct chapters that explore the onset, the struggle, the recovery process, and their lives today, the film offers an in-depth look at the complexities of addiction, its profound impact, and the transformative power of recovery. Its goal is to break down the stigma and shift the conversation about addiction in a more compassionate and understanding direction.
April 24, 2025

The Journey from Addiction to Recovery: A Playlist of Over 40 Stories

This playlist is a powerful source of inspiration that will take you on a journey from addiction to recovery. It features real-life experiences of individuals who overcame their struggle with addiction and found a new way of life through sobriety. You’ll hear firsthand about the challenges they faced, the losses they endured, and the strength it took to get sober. But most importantly, this playlist is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit in the midst of adversity. Every story shared is a reminder that it’s never too late to change your life for the better. So, if you’re struggling with addiction or know someone who is, take heart in the powerful message of this playlist that you too can overcome and rise above your circumstances to find a better, healthier way of life.