Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict - Official FBI & DEA Documentary Release

Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict is a 45-minute documentary released in 2016 by the FBI and DEA to address the opioid epidemic, particularly among youth, through personal testimonies and expert insights. It profiles individuals like Katrina, a former executive who self-medicated with pain pills leading to heroin addiction and the overdose death of her daughter; Matt, who began using at age 11 and progressed to opiates by 15; Melissa, a mother addicted while caring for her infant; and Trish, whose honor-roll daughter Cierra died from a heroin overdose. The film details the rapid onset of addiction, escalating costs driving users from prescriptions to street drugs, withdrawal symptoms, links to crime and family disruption, and societal prevalence across demographics. Interviews with medical professionals like Dr. Bassam and law enforcement officers such as FBI Special Agent Andrew Lenhart highlight overdose risks, infant addiction cases, and enforcement challenges, aiming to deter experimentation and foster community discussions on prevention and recovery.