Addicted Teens: Heroin Addiction

The FBI's notorious head James Comey and Chuck Rosenberg of the DEA appear in this entry from the four-part Addicted Teens series that focuses on heroin and other opioid use. Touching on the compulsion behind addiction, the bulk of the running time here is devoted to teens telling their own stories, which is interesting but also sometimes hard to follow during some of the more drawn-out or unfocused interviews. Covering topics including changes in the brain after repeated drug use, the effects on family and friends, and various reasons why people get wrapped up in opioid use (including genetics, environment, peer pressure, and availability), the program features some disturbing images, including detailed clips of shooting drugs. Other titles in the series include Drug Addiction, Ecstasy Addiction, and Legal Highs. Although somewhat unfocused, this cautionary guidance title on a serious national epidemic should be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Williams-Wood)