Harm Reduction

Addiction, Documentaries

Prescription for Addiction (2014) CAMH Documentary

Canada, Frontline Workers, Harm Reduction, Indigenous Communities, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Prevention & Treatment, Public Health

The rising addiction to prescription opioids has become a widespread crisis, affecting people across all social and economic backgrounds. Whether it starts with legitimate pain treatment or the misuse of illegally obtained medications, the consequences are deeply harmful to individuals, families, and entire communities. This raises critical questions: What are the consequences of making such powerful and addictive drugs easily accessible? How can we ensure people in pain receive the care they need while minimizing the risk of addiction? And how should we support those whose lives have been deeply affected by opioid misuse?

News / TV Specials, Addiction

Portugal’s War on Drugs (2021)

Decriminalization, Drug Trafficking, Frontline Workers, Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement, Open-Air Drug Markets, Personal Stories, Portugal

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.

News / TV Specials, Addiction

From Pleasure to Pain: Inside MDMA Drug Labs

Australia, Crime, Drug Trafficking, Ecstasy / MDMA, Empathogens, Hallucinogens, Harm Reduction, Netherlands, Nightlife, Stimulants, Youth

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

Injecting Hope: Tackling Drug Overdose With Harm Reduction

Canada, Frontline Workers, Harm Reduction, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Nalaxone, Non-Profits, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Public Health, Recovery, Stigma, Sublocade

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

The Story Behind: Fentanyl (3 Part Series)

Canada, Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Public Health

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.”

Addiction, Documentaries

Crisis Next Door: The Fentanyl Epidemic in North Carolina

Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement, Lost Loved Ones, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Pharmaceuticals, USA

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

Stigmatic: Our Opioid Crisis (Stigma & Addiction)

Decriminalization, Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Recovery, Stigma, USA

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

Contaminated: The Fentanyl Crisis in St. Louis

Buprenorphine, Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Nalaxone, Naltrexone, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Public Health, USA

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

The Fix: Examining Rhode Island’s Opioid Epidemic

Fentanyl, Frontline Workers, Harm Reduction, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Prevention & Treatment, Recovery, USA

This documentary covers the opioid epidemic in Rhode Island specifically, but the messages within it are important for all communities. While there are some personal stories from people who use drugs, the main focus is on listening to the opinions of frontline workers who see the societal impacts of addiction on a day to day basis. It discusses the realities of the opioid crisis and what is truly needed to help people in their journey towards recovery. Rhode Island has made some important changes over the years and its uplifting to hear about how they have led to a reduction in drug use related harms.

News / TV Specials, Addiction

The Fentanyl Crisis: Stories of Heartbreak and Hope

Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Lost Loved Ones, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Non-Profits, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Recovery, USA

Fentanyl remains a leading cause of overdose deaths in Virginia. According to the Virginia Department of Health, the synthetic opioid was responsible for 76.5% of the 2,656 overdose fatalities in 2021. The community of those who have lost loved ones to fentanyl continues to expand, with many grieving families seeking to raise awareness about a crisis they feel is not receiving the attention it urgently deserves.