The Opioid Crisis: The Pain Behind the Addiction
The special will take a close look at how addiction to prescription pain pills and ultimately heroin has become an epidemic across the country and here in Southern Nevada. Producer Melissa Duran talks with a woman in long term recovery about how heroin nearly took her life. Duran also talks to health officials and emergency responders about the extraordinary time and resources that are going into overdose calls. We also find out why those on the front lines fought to make a tool designed to save the lives of those who have overdosed more widely available.
Producer Sue Leavitt takes viewers inside some of the remarkable programs the city of Las Vegas has implemented to help those addicted before the drugs can take their lives such as Municipal Court’s Youth Offenders Court. Repeat offenders who were offered the choice to either follow a strict regimen of rehabilitation and education instead of going back to jail were interviewed. Leavitt also talks to students in the new Mission High School. That is a school where teens who are trying to stay clean can attend school and receive special help and counseling so they do not fall back into addiction.
Producer Nancy Byrne introduces viewers to two extraordinary people who have fought their way into long term recovery and have chosen to turn their pain and experience into helping others trying to become clean and sober. Their moving stories of strength and compassion explain how they are trying to break the stigmas that are attached to addiction.
