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Cocaine & Fentanyl: Destroying Lives (Addicted: The Narco Plague)

CNA traverses the front lines of various countries to investigate the world of illicit substances in Addicted. This three-part documentary series offers a rare, unfiltered look at the global production, trafficking and consumption of traditional and synthetic drugs.

In this second episode, Destructive Cocaine and Fentanyl: Unraveling the Harrowing Impact on Lives, their investigation begins in Colombia’s Catatumbo region, where violent cartels fight for control of cocaine routes, displacing over 50,000 farmers. Next, in Belgium’s Antwerp Port — known for being the cocaine capital of Europe — they examine the difficulities that law enforcement face in reducing the flow of cocaine trafficking. They then travel to Sweden and the Netherlands, where gangs recruit children for brutal gang wars, shattering communities and ruining lives. Lastly, ending in Philadelphia, USA, the documentary looks at how open-air drug markets and synthetic opioids like fentanyl are driving a growing public health crisis.

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Camp Pheonix: Inside Afghanistan’s Heroin Hell

This documentary, created by an independent reporter named Akshay, shows the growing drug crisis in Afghanistan through on-the-ground footage, interviews and real stories of people suffering from addiction and those seeking to provide support. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, international aid has been withdrawn, and public services are on the brink of collapse. Babrak, a former mujahideen fighter and once an addict himself, now runs Camp Pheonix, a rehabilitation center. Though the conditions here are poor, he believes it's still better than the streets. Despite these challenges, he and a small team of medical staff continue to offer hope as the Taliban’s harsh anti-drug policies are enforced.

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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 Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, international aid has been withdrawn, and public services are on the brink of collapse.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.

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Lost Angeles: City of Homelessness

Homelessness in Los Angeles is a deep-rooted and multifaceted issue that has persisted for decades. Despite numerous efforts to address it, the problem continues to grow year after year. This documentary explores the underlying causes of homelessness, which is arguably the most pressing issue facing the city today. FOX 11 interviews experts on homelessness, as well as those who are experiencing it firsthand, to understand how we arrived at this point and what steps can be taken to make meaningful progress toward a solution.

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A Homeless Community of Over 1,500 People in Las Vegas Are Living in Underground Tunnels

Did you know that 1,500 homeless people are living in tunnels beneath Las Vegas? Beneath the billion-dollar casinos, upscale nightclubs, and Michelin-star restaurants lies an underground world that seems almost unbelievable—until you see it for yourself. Drew Binsky partnered with Rob from the Shine a Light Foundation, who led him into this hidden world to meet the people living there and hear their stories firsthand.

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Addiction & Homeless Crisis – Seattle is Dying

This documentary explores the intertwined crises of addiction and homelessness in Seattle. It tells the story of a deep, simmering frustration that is escalating into anger and outrage. It highlights the experiences of people who have felt compassion, but no longer feel safe, heard, or protected. It’s about lost individuals roaming the streets, disconnected from home, family, or reality, chasing a drug that in turn relentlessly pursues them. The film examines not only the harm they inflict upon themselves, but also the toll it takes on the very fabric of the community. It speaks of a once-beautiful city now damaged, and a crisis of faith among Seattleites who are losing their connection to the place they once loved. But there’s another side to this story—a potential solution, a glimmer of hope in a city that seems to have run out of ideas. The question remains: what if Seattle is dying, and we don’t even realize it?

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Zombies of Nairobi: Children Lost to Inhalants

A population of young people in Kenya, known as the “Zombies of Nairobi,” wander the streets in a daze, seemingly half alive due to consuming dangerous inhalants. The campsites where they live are filled with mounds of garbage and create a desolate and grotesque environment. Deprived of even the most basic necessities, such as food, water, and shelter, these children suffer daily.

Tragically, the cause of their zombie-like state is due to the glue-sniffing epidemic that has gripped Nairobi’s street youth population. The side effects of inhaling dangerous substances can lead to a loss of concentration, lack of coordination, hallucinations, and even aggression towards others.

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Methadone Mile: Inside Boston’s Drug Epidemic

This video uncovers the complex reality behind Methadone Mile, speaking with everyone from Harvard doctors and crack dealers to addicts fighting for survival and those who have overcome addiction to help others. As they dig deeper, they explore how this notorious area came to be, uncovering how a single failed infrastructure project may have played a pivotal role in the hundreds now living on the streets of Boston. This episode is sponsored by Better Help.

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Afghanistan: The Billion Dollar Drug War

Drug use in Afghanistan is at an all-time high. With NATO forces withdrawing and local law enforcement authorities having little to no funding, the poppy fields are thriving. In this documentary, 101 East investigates how Afghan authorities are fighting to regulate the return of poppy farming, the ramifications of the global war on drugs, and what the future holds for this vulnerable nation. Fortunately, there is one woman in Kabul who works endlessly to help addicts.

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The New Zealand War on Drugs – WASTED with Guyon Epsiner

Guyon Epsiner takes a closer look at the “war on drugs” through the lens of methamphetamine, a drug many New Zealanders consider to be the most dangerous. He talks to police, Australian politicians, treatment providers, and the Drug Foundation, but the real heart of the story comes from speaking with people who’ve lived through it themselves, diving into their personal experiences and struggles.

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