A collection of news specials and TV specials for various topics related to addiction.
Amid the ongoing fentanyl crisis, the global cocaine trade is surging, flooding even the most remote parts of Canada with high-purity cocaine. In this CBC investigation, follow the drug’s journey from a ship off Colombia’s coast to the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation in Labrador.
When it comes to gambling, Canadians are heavily invested. Last year alone, they spent roughly $13 billion on legal, government-operated gambling—more than what they collectively shelled out for movies, hockey games, and Tim Hortons combined. It’s no secret that provincial governments depend on gambling revenue. But what often gets overlooked is just how much of that money comes from problem gamblers. Experts estimate that up to 50% of gambling profits are fueled by those struggling with addiction. Although they publicly promote “responsible gambling,” this investigation by The Fifth Estate exposes how these programs are falling short—allowing addicted problem gamblers to keep coming back, while the government cashes in on their losses.
Elizabeth Vargas is an American television journalist best known as the co-anchor of World News Tonight and 20/20 on for ABC. She was at the top of her field for decades, known for her strong reporting around the world. Despite having support, resources, and what most would call a privileged life, Elizabeth Vargas says she just could not stop drinking. After struggling with and hiding an alcohol use disorder, she opens up in an interview with Diane Sawyer, discussing what alcoholism did to her life.
Over twenty years ago, Portugal decriminalized drug use in 2001. This country went from being known as 'the heroin capital of Europe' to a global leader in the war on drugs. SBS Dateline travels to in Lisbon to find out what Australia can learn from Portugal's radical approach.
Thailand has made a dramatic shift in its cannabis policy, moving from strict prohibition to partial decriminalization—igniting a billion-dollar industry. The legal ambiguity has sparked celebration among cannabis enthusiasts. Cannabis has long played a role in traditional Thai medicine, but in the 1970s, Thailand aligned with the U.S.-led 'war on drugs,' classifying cannabis as a narcotic and imposing harsh penalties. That changed in June 2022, when the government removed cannabis from the narcotics list, effectively decriminalizing its sale and personal use. As Australia revisits its own cannabis laws, Southeast Asia correspondent Mazoe Ford travels across Thailand to meet a new wave of ‘ganja-preneurs’ seizing the opportunities of this booming green economy.
Thailand has had some of the strictest drug laws in the world, but they began changing this approach in 2022 by legalizing cannabis in an attempt to lessen the prison population and bring tourists back. SBS Dateline investigates Thailand's war on drugs by speaking with various frontline workers, from an elite task force that fights drug trafficking to social workers and people with lived experience. They discuss the legalization / decriminalization of cannabis, the widespread use of yaba, a type of methamphetamine, and how their harsh drug policy overwhelmed the prison system.
This 2012 special report from Global News investigates "Canada's biggest pharmaceutical coverup" - the overprescribing of medications containing Oxycodone (e.g., Percocet, Oxycontin, Hydromorphone). Trusting their doctors, many Canadians were given these drugs as an alternative to morphine to help with pain management and were told that it is "far less addictive". However, addiction soon set in and their tolerance began to increase, leading them to need more to have the same effect.
Robert Munsch is a Canadian bestselling children's author who published nearly 50 books, including the well-known story The Paper Bag Princess and Love You Forever. He's a well-known name in Canadian households, selling more than 40 million copies of his books. In this 2010 interview with Global News, Robert Munsch opens up about his struggles with addiction and mental health, discussing how his problems began in childhood, his past studying as a priest, his marriage and children, as well as how several life experiences led him to develop a problem with alcohol and cocaine. He also speaks about the personal background behind several of his books.
This 2019 investigation from The Feed traces the production and consumption of MDMA - from the cook to the consumer. Australians love party drugs, especially MDMA, and they are the biggest consumer of ecstasy in the world. Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about festival deaths, pill testing, and the government’s tough stance on drugs. But what doesn’t get mentioned as much is where all this MDMA is actually coming from - and who’s behind it. That’s what The Feed is setting out to discover as they travel from Australia to the Netherlands.
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.