Personal Stories - Addiction & Mental Health Resources

April 25, 2025

Categories

One Pill: Fighting Fentanyl Investigation

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.

April 25, 2025

Categories

Contaminated: The Fentanyl Crisis in St. Louis

Fentanyl is the defining drug of the overdose epidemic in St. Louis. It has no taste or smell, even a handful of it could kill thousands of people. It reaches into every corner of society, suburbs and cities, rich and poor, black and white. Many who become addicted have no idea they’re even taking it and it’s caused drug addiction in the region to spiral out of control. More than 70% of overdose deaths in the St. Louis area now involve fentanyl. We spent months looking into the local crisis. This story is told by recovering addicts, those fighting for change, and those left behind.

April 25, 2025

Categories

One Life Too Many: The Toll of the Overdose Crisis

In this brief news report, frontline workers discuss their personal and professional experiences with addiction and what it has been like to respond to an overdose during the opioid crisis. They talk about their loved one’s addiction and how this impacted their ability to help others. However, they also talk about the importance of recognizing compassion fatigue.

April 25, 2025

Categories

KELOLAND News Special Report: Opioid Crisis

Over the next hour, we’ll share the stories of people overcome by this dangerous addiction, and we’ll show you the grief families are going through. We’re also taking a look at the local efforts (by doctors and law enforcement) to get ahead of the opioid crisis, and we’re looking at local and national resources. We’ll let you know what’s available, how you can help, and what our community needs.

April 25, 2025

Categories

Chasing the Dragon: The Life of An Opiate Addict

The FBI and DEA released this documentary in an effort to combat the growing epidemic of prescription opiate and heroin abuse with the hope that it will help educate students and young adults about the dangers of addiction. You’ll hear in-depth stories from several people, some who are in recovery from an opioid addiction and others who have lost a loved one to it. This documentary focuses heavily on the harsh realities behind not only addiction itself, but specifically with the transition from prescription medications to heroin.

April 24, 2025

Categories

The Fentanyl Crisis: Stories of Heartbreak and Hope

Fentanyl continues to drive overdose deaths in Virginia. Statewide, the synthetic opioid contributed to 76.5% of the 2,656 overdose deaths in 2021, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The community of people who’ve lost loved ones to the drug is quickly growing, many looking for ways to draw focus to a problem they believe is not getting enough attention. (source)

April 24, 2025

Categories

Painkiller: Inside the Opioid Crisis in Canada

Nominated for Canadian Screen Award, this documentary covers the opioid crisis in Canada. “It features interviews with families who have lost loved ones, as well as healthcare workers and policy experts who question a health system that favors corporate profits over patients.” For example, they talk about the overprescribing of prescription medications, and how little to no punishments have been handed out. This documentary also advocates for harm reduction as a crucial way to combat this crisis.

April 24, 2025

Categories

State of Addiction: What Families Need to Know About Opioids

This news special by NBC 6 South Florida discusses the opioid crisis with several individuals, including Mark Wahlberg’s brother Jim Wahlberg. You’ll be introduced to a brief history of opium and quickly realize that this addiction crisis began with easily accessible prescription medications. Drugs are now cut with fentanyl, which is extremely dangerous and lethal. People are losing their lives and law enforcement can’t seem to keep up with the massive influx of drugs coming into the country. You’ll also learn some strategies for talking to children about drugs, which is crucial to do given the sheer impact that opioids are having on youth.

April 24, 2025

Categories

Bryan’s HOPE: The Heroin Epidemic – Prevention & Education

Bryan’s Hope was founded by Jeannie Richards after she lost her son, Bryan, to a heroin overdose. Richards was hopeful that she could raise enough awareness and money to begin purchasing naloxone kits to hand out to local addicts and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. “Bryan, I’d like to think, was just like any other boy growing up, active, happy, healthy,” she says. “It wasn’t until he starting taking prescription Vicodin that he morphed into somebody that I didn’t know” (source). Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and passed away a year later in 2019. As a result, it appears that Bryan’s Hope is no longer active.