Kerry Nenn

It will shock you. It will educate you. It will give you hope. On October 17th, the new PBS series “Addiction” premiers – and it could very well change your life.

He was supposed to be their leader. Their provider. Their hero. Gary’s kids looked to him to protect and guide them. He wanted to be the type of father they could love and respect - look up to. If they knew the truth, his image would be shattered. If he told them about his addiction, how could he ever look in their young faces again? How could he even begin to help them understand what was going on? They would have so many questions – and they would never look at him the same again. No, he couldn’t tell them – better just keep up appearances and try to be the dad they wanted.

Linda lived in a nearly constant state of anxiety. Every day, she worked so hard at her job - but her efforts were as much about hiding her addiction as completing her workload. She couldn’t afford to lose this job. She was convinced her employer would boot her if they knew about her struggle with alcohol. So she kept up appearances and hoped her boss wouldn’t notice. Linda occasionally wondered if it would be better to speak with her boss, admit her addiction, and get everything out in the open. But, no – she’d just end up jobless, penniless, and homeless. Better to keep quiet, keep h

Dave could hardly look his wife in the eyes anymore. His struggle was real, and it was intense. It was beyond daily – it was minute-by-minute. Yet, the thought of telling his wife that he was addicted to painkillers was nearly as crippling as the withdrawal he suffered when he didn’t take the pills. He knew he couldn’t go on living these lies forever, but he didn’t see an alternative.

Fentanyl. Two milligrams of this stuff can kill an adult. That's less than a pinch of salt. In 2017 alone, Customs Border and Protection seized over 950 pounds of it.

Nancy went through a rough time after losing her daughter. To deal with the depression, her doctor prescribed medication. Nearly two years later, Nancy has a new grasp on life, a mending heart, and a strong support network.

Gavin’s family knows he needs help. Gavin knows he needs help. At 16, he is on a destructive path of addiction that will soon lead to overdose and death if he doesn’t change direction – fast.

Brian just spent the last 10 hours in the shower. Why? It was the only way he knew to get the pain and nausea caused by cannabis overuse to stop. Brian is one of an estimated 2.7 million Americans who suffer from bouts of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). This condition causes vomiting and pain in heavy marijuana users. It used to be a rare condition, but the recent changes in marijuana laws have resulted in a flare-up in the number cases.

They were all set to expand their counseling services into a full residential treatment facility. The county had originally bought the building with plans to demolish it.

What happens when over 100 Americans a day die from opioid-related substance abuse? Policies change. The outcry becomes so loud it can’t be ignored, and everyone – including retailers – is forced to stand up and take notice of the opioid epidemic.