The Damage Done

The U.S. opioid epidemic rages on. The latest official estimates say more than 70,000* * Provisional drug overdose death counts for the year ended June 2018, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on data available Jan. 1, 2019. Provisional counts are subject to change and may underestimate final counts. people died from drug overdoses in the year that ended in June 2018 – nearly 200 victims a day. Most of the toll – about two-thirds – involves pain pills, heroin and – increasingly – the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl. Drug overdoses are the top cause of death for adults under 50. And as bad as the estimates seem, researchers say actual overdose deaths may be 20 to 35 percent higher.

VOA journalists Chris Simkins and Jeff Swicord spent all of 2018 documenting stories from the epidemic’s front lines. Their series, “The Damage Done”, follows Americans in three cities – Miami, Philadelphia, and Nashville, N.C. – where lives and neighborhoods have been tragically transformed by heroin and other opioid drugs.

Philadelphia, PA

The Unwanted

Episode 1: Police move in to clear out encampments of addicts in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. Now, the question is: Where will they go next? Episode 2: While Kensington residents argue whether addiction is a disease or a choice, recovering user Britt Carpenter, with Philly Unknown, tries to save street addicts from themselves. Episode 3: Overdoses skyrocket in the aftermath of Kensington’s mass evictions. Meantime, Eric emerges from rehab transformed. Episode 4: After wavering for months, Kelly takes a huge step into housing while the mayor defends forced evacuations of homeless addicts in Kensington. Episode 5: Eric stumbles back onto the street, while Kelly struggles on methadone. With addicts evicted from under all Kensington's bridges, Britt reflects on the neighborhood's future. Episode : On the streets of Philadelphia, VOA Journalists Chris Simkins and Jeff Swicord followed opioid addicts over the course of a year as the city's most drug-infested neighborhood struggled to contain a disastrous and deadly epidemic.

Nashville, NC

A Chief for Hope

Episode 1: With his North Carolina community overwhelmed by addiction, police Chief Tom Bashore decides that arresting people isn't enough to solve the problem. Episode 2: The Tar River Task Force chases heroin dealers while Chief Bashore helps another addict from jail to treatment. Episode 3: At a small Nashville church, ‘Pastor Mike’ uses prayer and lessons from his own past as an addict to help heroin users recover. Episode 4: Chief Bashore struggles with outreach in the nearby town of Rocky Mount, where drugs took a stubborn hold in African American neighborhoods. Episode 5: Chief Bashore makes a life changing decision and the Hope Initiative moves into new territory.

Miami, Fla.

Healing Allison

Episode 1: In Miami, Allison Norland fights to stay clean after rehab — and regain full custody of the daughter she lost while using opioids. Episode 2: After all the damage Allison’s addiction caused, her mother says she can't support giving Allison full custody of her daughter. Episode 3: Allison and John regain full custody of their daughter Sawyer, but it doesn't salve Allison's insecurities — or nightmares about her first child's death. Episode 4: Years of drug tests, antidepressants and dosing on the opioid replacement drug suboxone take an exhausting toll on Allison. Episode 5: Allison edges closer to her goal of being suboxone free as she and John prepare for what could be a final appearance in Judge Cohen's family court.

Current episode

The Damage Done: The Unwanted

On the streets of Philadelphia, VOA Journalists Chris Simkins and Jeff Swicord followed opioid addicts over the course of a year as the city's most drug-infested neighborhood struggled to contain a disastrous and deadly epidemic.

VOA Special Report

Living America’s Opioid Nightmare