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Injecting Hope: Tackling Drug Overdose With Harm Reduction

Injecting Hope offers an unflinching, ground-level examination of the drug overdose crisis in North America and explores the potential role of harm reduction initiatives, such as safe injection sites, in addressing the epidemic. ABC7 News reporter Tara Campbell takes viewers to the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for an intimate look at the effects of North America’s first sanctioned safe consumption site, established more than two decades ago, on both individuals struggling with addiction and the broader community.

The Story Behind: Fentanyl (3 Part Series)

This three-part series, presented by RogersTV, delves into the opioid and fentanyl crisis and its widespread impact on communities across Ontario, Canada. The first video provides essential background, explaining what fentanyl is and how it has insidiously infiltrated neighborhoods. A local police officer emphasizes that “the misuse and abuse of fentanyl is a shared responsibility — it’s a public health issue that involves education, intervention, treatment, and enforcement.”

Crisis Next Door: The Fentanyl Epidemic in North Carolina

Crisis Next Door reveals the devastating toll fentanyl has taken on the lives of thousands of North Carolinians, examining both the state's response to this growing epidemic and the urgent actions still needed to save lives. North Carolina is grappling with a severe drug overdose crisis, with fentanyl at the forefront as the leading cause of death. In 2021, the state recorded over 4,000 drug overdose fatalities, the highest number of substance abuse-related deaths in its history. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), fentanyl was involved in 77% of those deaths.

True Stories of Addiction: Alcohol Was My Gateway to Illegal Drugs

Brady grew up in a disconnected family with parents who secretly struggled with drug addiction. After getting his girlfriend pregnant, he married and began working at a liquor store, where he developed a heavy drinking habit. At 26, he tried cocaine and quickly became addicted, using it to stay awake and alcohol to sleep. Later, while working at a phone bank, he began using pain pills after a back injury. The pills made him feel good, and he soon relied on a mix of drugs and alcohol to function. Though he tried to cut back due to the financial cost, he wasn't concerned about health or legal risks—only the financial expenses.

Addiction: The Science Behind (NOVA PBS)

This incredibly informative documentary from NOVA PBS discusses opioid addiction, highlighting that addiction is not a moral failing, but rather, a treatable chronic medical condition. It provides a general overview of the science behind addiction, detailing how dopamine, the reward pathway, and other brain regions change as a result of substance abuse, and how these changes result in drug-seeking behaviours and withdrawal. While there are several personal stories from those affected by addiction, the primary focus of this documentary is to provide education on the science behind addiction and the importance of evidence-based treatments.

Killer High: The Silent Crisis (Fentanyl)

This powerful documentary explores the impact that fentanyl is having on the United States, particularly on youth living in Fresno, California. You’ll learn about the opioid crisis through the eyes of the families impacted by it, the law enforcement officers who are desperately trying to get it off the streets, and the medical professionals who witness countless opioid-related overdoses and deaths.

Stigmatic: Our Opioid Crisis (Stigma & Addiction)

This documentary delves into the origins and far-reaching impact of the opioid crisis. Featuring interviews with individuals affected by opiate addiction — including law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and those in recovery — the film offers an unvarnished look at the differing opinions within the activist community on contentious approaches to addressing the epidemic. Through these honest conversations, it becomes clear that one pervasive challenge lies at the core of the crisis: stigma.

One Pill: Fighting Fentanyl Investigation

The fentanyl crisis is killing more Texans than ever before. Victims are getting younger and most people don’t even know they’re taking it. It’s extremely easy to overdose on fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, and people are losing their loved ones. They want you to hear their stories so that they can hopefully help save a life and prevent others from going through what they went through. Some of them have formed non-profit organizations to spread the message. You’ll also learn more about drug trafficking and how law enforcement is attempting to combat the overdose crisis.

Contaminated: The Fentanyl Crisis in St. Louis

Fentanyl has become the leading drug fueling the overdose epidemic in St. Louis. Odorless and tasteless, even a small amount can be fatal, and it has permeated every aspect of society — from the cities to the suburbs, affecting people across all demographics, regardless of wealth, race, or background. Many individuals who fall victim to its grip are unaware they’re even consuming it, contributing to a rapid escalation of addiction in the region. Today, fentanyl is involved in over 70% of overdose deaths in St. Louis. After months of investigation, this story is told through the voices of recovering addicts, advocates for change, and those left to cope with the aftermath.