USA

A collection of resources discussing addiction, mental health, and social justice and civil rights in the USA.

Addiction, Documentaries

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

Belgium, Cocaine, Colombia, Crime, Drug Trafficking, Fentanyl, Homelessness, Law Enforcement, Netherlands, Opioid Crisis, Overdose, Portugal, Poverty, Sweden, Tranquilizers, USA, Youth

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.

Addiction, Documentaries

Seniors & Addiction: Growing Old Gambling (2018)

Behavioural Addictions, Gambling Disorder, Older Adults, Personal Stories, USA

With more disposable income and free time, experts warn that Baby Boomers face an increased risk of developing serious gambling problems. In the Midwest, easy access to both state and tribal casinos—as well as lottery games, keno, and sports betting—makes gambling more readily available. Many seniors engage in gambling as a social activity, but when it spirals out of control, recovering financially can be extremely difficult or even impossible.

NET’s original documentary explores the rise of problem gambling among Baby Boomers. It shares powerful personal accounts from individuals who have experienced emotional and financial turmoil, alongside insights and advice from top experts in crisis intervention and addiction treatment for older adults.

Addiction, Documentaries

Youth Overdose & Opioid Addiction – Overtaken (2012)

Lost Loved Ones, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, USA, Youth

Created by two mothers, this documentary from early 2012 covers the opioid prescription drug crisis in Orange County, California from the perspective of parents who have lost a child and youth who are now in recovery.

Addiction, Documentaries

Abuse of Prescription Drugs: Not What the Doctor Ordered (2009)

Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Public Health, USA, Youth

Prescription drug abuse is rapidly becoming a nationwide crisis. These medications are easily accessible and simple to distribute, and Tennessee has been tackling this problem for years. The state once held the unfortunate title of having the highest rate of prescription drug abuse in the country. That trend is changing, thanks to dedicated efforts and strong collaboration. In this one-hour MCTFT broadcast from 2009, people from Tennessee share their firsthand experiences with prescription drugs. Discover how this community identified the issue and took action. You'll hear insights from coalition leaders, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, insurance representatives, and more.

Addiction, Documentaries

Prescription for Abuse (2012) Opioid Crisis Documentary

Lost Loved Ones, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Overdose, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Public Health, USA, Youth

This 2012 documentary is narrated by Rosemary Orr, a doctor at the Seattle Children’s Hospital who lost her son to an opioid overdose. KCTS 9 interviewed her about her son’s death and then later asked if she would participate in…

News / TV Specials, Addiction

Elizabeth Vargas – A Story of Anxiety, Addiction & Hope

Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Anxiety Disorders, Celebrities, Dual Diagnosis, Parental Addiction, Personal Stories, Recovery, Relapse, USA

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.

Addiction, TV Shows

Really Breaking Bad: 560kg Meth Bust (To Catch a Smuggler)

Crime, Drug Trafficking, Ecstasy / MDMA, Law Enforcement, Methamphetamine, USA

This episode of To Catch a Smuggler (which appears to be a compilation of other episodes) focuses on drug trafficking seizures performed by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), namely that of MDMA / ecstasy and methamphetamine. While giving insight into their careers and briefly explaining how drug trafficking works, they find 560 kilograms of liquid meth in paint buckets loaded into a truck and a large quantity of MDMA in parcels.

Addiction, Documentaries

‘It’s Not Alcoholism Until After College’ – The Alarming Reality of Binge Drinking

Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Drinking Culture, Personal Stories, Recovery, USA, Youth

This documentary primarily follows a young woman named Rachel, who struggles with the concept of alcoholism, believing that, although she engages in binge drinking, she is not an alcoholic. According to her, "They always say, it's not alcoholism until after College. College is like the excuse to binge drink." There are a few other people who share their stories as well, but they are already past the point of recognizing their problems and have sought help.

Addiction, Documentaries

7 Days: The Opioid Crisis in Arkansas

Fentanyl, Frontline Workers, Heroin, Lost Loved Ones, Nalaxone, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Recovery, USA, Youth

Listen to the stories of people who have struggled with addiction, and discover the ongoing efforts across the state of Arkansas to address the challenges of opioid misuse and addiction. Their stories are raw, real, and deeply human—marked by loss,…

Addiction, Documentaries

Poison Pill: San Diego’s Battle Against Fentanyl

Buprenorphine, Drug Trafficking, Fentanyl, Frontline Workers, Law Enforcement, Lost Loved Ones, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Nalaxone, Naltrexone, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, USA

NBC 7 undertook an in-depth investigation to move beyond the headlines and statistics, aiming to uncover how the fentanyl crisis emerged in San Diego County, the impact it continues to have on local communities, and the critical work still needed to address what has been labeled an epidemic.