GPB EXTRA

Crisis of Substance Seeks to Bring Awareness to Georgia’s Opioid Crisis

New Documentary Premieres Monday, April 24 at 9 PM

Every 11 minutes, someone in America dies of an opioid overdose. According to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), opioids continue to ravage the lives and livelihood of Georgia citizens, particularly in areas of the state where services and resources are harder to obtain.

In partnership with DBHDD and Susie Films, GPB has produced Crisis of Substance, a documentary that takes an unfiltered look at the battle against substance abuse through the lens of Georgians battling active addiction, recovery and those dedicated to fighting a crisis that is overwhelming the nation.

“We believe that through partnerships across the continuum of care from prevention to treatment to recovery, we can work together to decrease stigma and risk factors, increase opioid addiction awareness and protective factors, and help individuals in need get connected to high-quality, compassionate, and culturally responsive care that leads to a life of recovery and independence,” said Jill D. Mays, Director, Office of Behavioral Health Prevention and Federal Grants.

Told through a series of moving stories, each profiling a different community, the goal of Crisis of Substance is to bring awareness to the growing negative impact of the opioid epidemic on the lives of individuals and families in historically under-resourced communities and the disparate health challenges they face.

“DBHDD is hopeful that Crisis of Substance will be an effective tool for us to start courageous conversations and spark collaboration as more and more people view the film and realize that everyone can do something to help save lives,” said Mays.

Crisis of Substance premieres on GPB Monday, April 24 at 9 p.m.

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