Independent Lens
The Opioid Trilogy, Episode 1: Brother
A filmmaker talks with her brother during his recovery from opioid use disorder, shedding light on the origins of his addiction and our broken rehabilitation system.
The Opioid Trilogy, Episode 2: Do No Harm
Do No Harm, the second installment of The Opioid Trilogy, focuses on one woman’s journey from heroin addiction to recovery and transformation.
- Funding Initiative
- Short-Form Series and Special Projects
Producer/Director
Joanna Rudnick
Joanna Rudnick (she/her) is an Emmy Award-nominated director with a background in science and health storytelling. Her documentary In the Family (PBS|POV) was broadcast in over a dozen countries. She directed the animated short Brother (IL|PBS), On Beauty (Shorts TV), and an episode of duPont-Columbia Award-winning Hard Earned (Al Jazeera America).
Producer
Niema Jordan
Niema Jordan is an award-winning filmmaker from Oakland, California. She has a passion for character-driven stories and harnessing the power of media for positive community impact. She holds master’s degrees in journalism and public health. Her production credits include Oasis, The Chosen Life (NYT Op Docs) and The Me You Can’t See (AppleTV).
- Other ITVS Films
- The Opioid Trilogy, Episode 3: Coming Home
We fund untold stories for public media.
Learn more about funding opportunities with ITVS.
The Film
In the second episode of The Opioid Trilogy, Raina McMahan’s struggle to overcome a 17-year heroin addiction is examined. Raina grew up in the great pine forest of the Pacific Northwest. Although her childhood seemed tranquil, her personal life was filled with unease. She left home while still in high school and ended up living on the street. In city after city, she turned to heroin to cope with her inner struggles.
As the years progressed, Raina remained estranged from her family and home. She tried several times to seek treatment as her opioid use deepened, but found herself caught in a network of punitive systems, quick fixes, and con artists—approaches that were far removed from science and healthcare. Raina was judged for her choices and grew even more isolated, ultimately giving up on treatment.
Years later, Raina developed a heart infection from injecting drugs and was sent to Massachusetts General Hospital. There she met Dr. Sarah Wakeman, an addiction specialist, and the two began work together using medication treatment for her opioid use disorder and intensive outpatient therapy. Raina embarked on a multi-year path towards sustained healing, and today, she is a mother of two children and works as a recovery coach. Her journey reveals alternative approaches to the current overdose crisis, options that prioritize connection and healing over punishment and shame.
