Name: Addiction
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Nova

In her teens, Casey stayed busy with sports. But severe muscle cramps landed her in the hospital, where she was prescribed opioids for her pain. An emergency room doctor realized she was addicted and said not to come back—leaving her and her family to deal with the problem on their own.

Severe muscle cramps landed this teen in the hospital, where she was prescribed opioids.

How a Teenager's Opioid Prescription Led to Dependence

Nearly 20 million Americans are struggling with addiction, yet over 90% of them will not receive treatment, in large part due to the stigma surrounding the disease. One way to destigmatize addiction is to change the language that we use to describe it, starting now.

Over 20 million Americans struggle with addiction—and social stigma is partially to blame.

Why Addiction Stigma Stops Patients from Seeking Treatment

Hear firsthand from individuals struggling with addiction and follow the cutting-edge work of doctors and scientists as they investigate why addiction is not a moral failing, but a chronic, treatable medical condition. Easy access to drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and even prescription medications like OxyContin has fueled an epidemic of addiction—the deadliest in U.S. history.

Discover how opioid addiction affects the brain and how treatments are saving lives.

Addiction Prologue

After crushing his leg in a mining accident, West Virginia resident Jasen Edwards was prescribed painkillers. He became addicted––and lost his job and marriage as a result. But today, Jasen’s on the road to recovery.

After a mining accident, a West Virginia resident began struggling with addiction.

A Coal Miner's Story of Addiction and Recovery

Coal Miner's Story of Addiction and Recovery

Therapist Cindy Chamberlin works with children at high risk of physical and developmental delays, through an innovative program called Birth to Three. Its goal is to intervene early to help children develop the skills they need.

A therapy program enables children born with neonatal abstinence syndrome to build skills.

Helping Children Born Dependent on Opioids

Opioids mimic the body's natural pain relievers, binding to receptor proteins in the brain and sometimes inducing euphoria.

How opioids mimic the body's natural pain relievers and sometimes induce euphoria.

The Science of Opioid Addiction and Treatment

Science of Opioid Addiction and Treatment

Ben Francis became addicted to opioid painkillers in high school after a soccer injury. Today, he helps others struggling with addiction through an opiate epidemic task force.

Ben Francis became addicted to opioid painkillers in high school after a soccer injury.

Former Opioid User Discusses Withdrawal and Recovery

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Addiction

Supervised injection sites—like the one in Vancouver, Canada—offer people a safer place to use, often helping those with a long history of addiction who don’t respond to oral treatments like methadone and Suboxone.

Vancouver, Canada’s supervised injection sites offer people a safer place to use.

Canada’s Bold Steps to Reduce Opioid Overdoses

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Hear firsthand from individuals struggling with addiction and follow the cutting-edge work of doctors and scientists as they investigate why addiction is not a moral failing, but a chronic, treatable medical condition. Easy access to drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and even prescription medications like OxyContin has fueled an epidemic of addiction—the deadliest in U.S. history. Now, science is revealing how addiction affects the brain, and top experts are gathering evidence about how we should address our drug problem, from embracing evidence-based treatments, to rethinking public policies. (Premiered October 17, 2018)

Discover how opioid addiction affects the brain and how evidence-based treatments are saving lives.

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Discover how opioid addiction affects the brain and how evidence-based treatments are saving lives.

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US, US Territories, Canada

Follow along as NASA launches the Mars 2020 Mission, perhaps the most ambitious hunt yet for signs of ancient life on Mars. In February 2021, the spacecraft blazes into the Martian atmosphere at some 12,000 miles per hour and lowers the Perseverance Rover into the rocky Jezero Crater, home to a dried-up river delta scientists think could have harbored life. Perseverance will comb the area for signs of life and collect samples for possible return to Earth. Traveling onboard is a four-pound helicopter that will conduct a series of test flights—the first on another planet. During its journey, Perseverance will also test technology designed to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, in hopes that the gas could be used for fuel—or for humans to breathe—on future missions. (Premiered February 24, 2021)

NASA launches its most ambitious search yet for traces of ancient life on Mars.

Looking for Life on Mars

A person is tested for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site in Florida in July 2020. Image Credit: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto, Getty Images

Figuring out when to get tested after exposure requires understanding what happens once the virus enters your body. We’ve got you covered.

Figuring out when to get tested after exposure requires understanding what happens once the virus enters your body. We’ve got you covered.

I’ve been exposed to Covid-19. When should I get tested?

A statue of Zheng He at the Sam Poo Kong Temple in Java, Indonesia. Image Credit: Budianto Santosa, Shutterstock

In the 1400s, Zheng He sailed thousands of miles around Asia and Africa in ships the size of soccer fields, spreading Chinese innovations like compasses and gunpowder in the process.

In the 1400s, Zheng He sailed thousands of miles around Asia and Africa in ships the size of soccer fields, spreading Chinese innovations like compasses and gunpowder in the process.

Addiction

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Taking the Pain Out of Addiction

Helping Children Born Dependent on Opioids

How a Teenager's Opioid Prescription Led to Dependence

The Science of Opioid Addiction and Treatment

Addiction Community Screening Guide

New Opioid a Hopeful Step Toward Non-Addictive Pain Killers

Restoring Hope: Fighting the Opioid Crisis in Buffalo

Canada’s Bold Steps to Reduce Opioid Overdoses

Host a Screening of NOVA: Addiction

When Addiction Starts at the Dentist

Why Addiction Stigma Stops Patients from Seeking Treatment

A Coal Miner's Story of Addiction and Recovery

Addiction

Tracking Opioids Beneath the Streets

Former Opioid User Discusses Withdrawal and Recovery

What Screen Addictions and Drug Addictions Have in Common

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Explore More

Taking the Pain Out of Addiction

Helping Children Born Dependent on Opioids

How a Teenager's Opioid Prescription Led to Dependence

The Science of Opioid Addiction and Treatment

Addiction Community Screening Guide

New Opioid a Hopeful Step Toward Non-Addictive Pain Killers

Restoring Hope: Fighting the Opioid Crisis in Buffalo

Canada’s Bold Steps to Reduce Opioid Overdoses

Host a Screening of NOVA: Addiction

When Addiction Starts at the Dentist

Why Addiction Stigma Stops Patients from Seeking Treatment

A Coal Miner's Story of Addiction and Recovery

Addiction

Tracking Opioids Beneath the Streets

Former Opioid User Discusses Withdrawal and Recovery

What Screen Addictions and Drug Addictions Have in Common