Overdose

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.

News / TV Specials, Addiction

Inside Canada’s Fentanyl Overdose Epidemic

Canada, Evidence-Based, Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Lost Loved Ones, Non-Profits, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Prevention & Treatment, Public Health

SBS Dateline (Australia) wants to know what they can learn from the Canadian opioid crisis and the fatality of fentanyl, and use it as a warning for Australians. This news investigation discusses (1) why fentanyl kills so many young Canadians, (2) how it first came to Canada, (3) the importance of harm reduction services like supervised consumption sites, and (4) programs and support services in place to help people in several different ways.

Addiction, Documentaries

Kids Are Dying: Addiction in Youth

Heroin, Lost Loved Ones, Non-Profits, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, USA, Youth

This documentary is a must-see for anyone wanting to learn more about addiction and youth drug use and how the overdose epidemic / opioid crisis is affecting children and young adults. You can also watch Michael’s second documentary – An American Epidemic – where he details how this problem is not only happening locally in Camden, but also nationally.

Addiction, Documentaries

The Opioid Crisis: An American Epidemic

Celebrities, Lost Loved Ones, Non-Profits, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Recovery, USA, Youth

After making his first documentary – Kids are Dying – Michael DeLeon, who runs Steered Straight, travelled throughout the U.S. to nearly 40 states to talk to people about the opioid crisis. He speaks with parents who have lost a child, professionals in the field, addicts in recovery, as well as celebrities to create this eye-opening film. It seems that everyone shares one common belief: the opioid crisis is an epidemic that has gone on for far too long.

Addiction, Documentaries

The Opioid Epidemic: Stephen’s Story

Dual Diagnosis, Family History, Lost Loved Ones, Non-Profits, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, USA

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

The Opioid Crisis – It Impacts Us All

Fentanyl, Heroin, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Public Health, Stigma, USA

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

Fentanyl: The Drug Deadlier than Heroin (VICE)

Canada, Fentanyl, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Suboxone, Youth

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

The Road to Recovery: 6 Personal Stories

Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Recovery, Relapse

This compelling documentary features six people who detail their poignant journey from addiction to recovery, including discussions of relapse. They discuss their childhood trauma and it is evident that these distressing experiences propelled their addictions. The emotional pain, too much to bare, led to their substance abuse because, as they describe, being intoxicated was a relief, a break, from their lives. They all hit their own personal rock bottoms and each found recovery through various treatment options.

Addiction, Documentaries

Overdose Crisis on the US-Canada Border: Steel Town Down

Canada, Harm Reduction, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Youth

In 2017, tens of thousands lost their lives to opioid overdoses across the US and Canada, surpassing the peak death toll of the AIDS epidemic. In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the burden of this crisis rests on a few individuals working tirelessly to keep their community safe, mirroring the struggles in countless North American towns. Steel Town Down offers an intimate look at the town's lone harm reduction worker and a family's desperate efforts to save their son from becoming another victim of the epidemic.