Poisoned Island

Over the past several months, we have been working on the creation of Poisoned Island: a three-part podcast series about opioid use on Long Island. We’re excited to say it’s now ready for release. Poisoned Island personalizes how hard Long Island has been hit by the opioid epidemic. We look closely at how one psychoactive substance has impacted the lives of first responders, those who fall victim to drug abuse and their loved ones. Over the last few years, the opioid crisis has made headlines across the United States, including on Long Island. In 2018, there were 283 opioid overdoses in Suffolk County, according to the New York State - County Opioid Quarterly Report, published July of 2019. There were 110 in Nassau County, according to the same report. Working on Poisoned Island has been an incredibly meaningful experience for us. The pain, diligence and even optimism conveyed in many of our conversations with people is something we won’t forget. We hope this podcast helps illuminate the realities of this pressing humanitarian issue.