Addiction in New Jersey: I'm out of f---ing hope

I'm Jay Lassiter, a former IV drug user who found the grace to amend my life. For 12 episodes of "Heroin Uncut: The Truth About the Crisis," I've been sharing not only my own stories, but those of people on the frontlines of our statewide battle against addiction. It was originally my intention to…

Addiction is a definitely a disease — Why this addict is so sure

Is addiction to drugs a disease? How about alcohol dependence? It’s an ongoing debate in the media, around kitchen tables, and online — Especially with with New Jersey's opiate crisis getting more and more out of control. I know my answer. But I want to be clear: Heroin addicts who won’t admit the…

Rehab, jail and hard truths: What addicts say we don't understand

Rehab, jail and hard truths: What addicts say we don't understand Vince, Erik and Brian are on their way to being addiction success stories. They're each working hard to put their lives back together after years of drugs and poor choices — and they're getting a lot of help. But they also know how…

Marijuana vs opioids — the legal one kills

What is the matter with our drug policy? Under federal law and in many U.S. states, marijuana remains illegal — even though it's far safer than many of the substances we can all get our hands on. Fake an injury and a few hours later, you can have a handful of perfectly legal opioids that start you…

Taking note on addiction — Hard lessons from NJ journalists

Addiction has touched so many lives throughout New Jersey — and some of those bringing stories of the state's opioid crisis know that better than others. In this edition of Heroin Uncut, we connect with reporters who've done groundbreaking work inspired in part by their own addiction journeys and t…

Carter Stone was 'better than the addiction' — but it killed him anyway

Carter Stone was a Jersey boy. And when he died of a heroin overdose at the age of 32, his grieving family was predictably distraught — like any other family in their position would be. But what's different about this family is the message it left behind. But it's his obituary — and the frank tal…

The heroes and villains of New Jersey's drug crisis

We didn't get here by accident — there are plenty of people responsible, through greed, shortsightenedness or simple lack of concern for New Jersey's opioid crisis. Some of the most powerful individuals and entities in Trenton have a lot to answer for. In this latest episode of Heroin Uncut, Jay L…

How Narcan, a cop and a convicted killer saved my life

If you've been following Heroin Uncut, you've already met Anthony — the recovering addict who told us what it was like to be revived with Narcan. But what happened next is what's extraordinary. Anthony's a reminder that people suffering from addiction aren't a waste -- they've got dreams. They've …

The Opioid Industrial Complex — Getting Rich Off Drug Money

There are dozens of examples why opioids, legal and illegal, are big business — reasons why vested interests want to keep you addicted and coming back for more. Heroin Uncut is a special project of NJ1015.com and Townsquare Media. New full episodes every Saturday. Get more information — and resour…

The trouble with Narcan

Narcan has been deployed over 18,000 times to reverse an opiate-induced Overdose in our home state of New Jersey alone. It's an undisputed life-saver. It's also a sign of just how far down the opiates abyss we've fallen. In this latest episode of Heroin Uncut, Jay makes the case for prevention an…