The opioid epidemic, which I mentioned on my own blog in U.S. life expectancy falls prompting Russian analogies, inspired four nominees at last month’s News and Documentary Emmy Awards. “Hooked: America’s Opioid Epidemic” from NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt was nominated for Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a Newscast. Vice News Tonight’s “The Rise of Carfentanil” was nominated for Outstanding Hard News Feature Story in a Newscast. “Chasing Heroin” from Frontline on PBS earned a nomination for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary. Yes, health is a social issue. Finally, “Generation Addicted” from WCAU, NBC 10 in Philadelphia, earned a nomination for Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative Report.
The local story won. Watch as its producers receive the Emmy.
When I searched for the segment, I found three copies of the entire report online. Here is the one from the station itself: Generation Addicted: An NBC10 Exclusive Presentation.
NBC10’s Digital Team spent five months investigating the issue of opioid addiction in the Philadelphia region and beyond. They discovered a generation of addicted people and a public health and law enforcement system ill-equipped to save them.
I’m sure that I’ll have more to write about the opioid epidemic in the future at my own blog, most likely about the prescription pill side of it. When I do, I’ll post it here, too. In the meantime, stay tuned for at least four more diary entries featuring News and Documentary Emmy Award winners that are on-topic here.
Modified from ‘Generation Addicted’ wins Outstanding Regional News Story: Investigative Report at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News.