“A special report on the epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose in Rhode Island and beyond, “Killer Drugs” examines the rise of prescription painkiller and heroin addiction, the challenge of being a first-responder on the front lines of this crisis of addiction and overdose, and how communities, and addicts, can and do recover. The one-hour documentary looks at a recent spike in the number of accidental opioid overdose deaths, state and regional efforts to prevent those deaths, and the barriers of stigma and public policy that stymie those efforts. The reporting began when few police departments were using an overdose rescue drug called Narcan; that drug is now widely available. But challenges remain, including the widespread availability of highly addictive prescription painkillers, combined with the widespread availability and lower price of heroin.”
