Vanguard Season 3 Episode 1 The Oxycontin Express

Vanguard is a documentary-style television series that explores and exposes some of the world's most controversial and pressing issues. In season three's opening episode, entitled "The Oxycontin Express," the Vanguard team delves into the seedy world of prescription drug abuse.

The episode begins by shining a light on the opioid epidemic currently devastating America. It is estimated that nearly 130 Americans die each day due to opioid overdoses, and the problem is only getting worse. The Vanguard team travels to Florida to investigate the root of the problem – a pill-mill operation that is distributing prescription drugs like candy to anyone who wants them.

The Oxycontin Express is the nickname given to the highway that runs from Florida to Kentucky, a route known for its high concentration of pill mills and drug trafficking. With illicit drug use and overdose deaths on the rise, the Vanguard team aims to uncover exactly how these pill mills operate and get a closer look at the people behind them.

The team speaks to a former drug addict who explains how easy it is to get prescriptions for highly addictive drugs. She claims that all it takes is a quick visit to the doctor, where she would complain of pain and walk out with a handful of prescriptions.

The Vanguard team then follows a man named Mark, who is on a mission to expose the pill mills in Florida by taking hidden camera footage of their operations. The footage shows doctors prescribing large quantities of opioids to patients who give little to no indication that they need them. Mark also captures deals between drug dealers and the pill mills, showing just how easy it is to obtain these drugs illegally.

The Vanguard team also speaks to law enforcement officials who are trying to crack down on the pill mills. They explain that the problem is not just with the pill mills themselves but with the drug companies that produce and market these highly addictive drugs. The team also shows how difficult it is to hold pill mills accountable, as they often use legal loopholes to operate without consequence.

As the episode progresses, the team begins to uncover more and more about the opioid epidemic and the people who are profiting from it. The Vanguard team speaks to addiction specialists and former drug addicts who explain how powerful and addictive these drugs really are. They also highlight the devastating toll that opioid addiction takes on families and communities.

Overall, "The Oxycontin Express" is a harrowing look into one of the biggest public health crises facing America today. Through its investigative reporting and in-depth interviews, the Vanguard team sheds light on the dark underbelly of the prescription drug industry and the devastating consequences of opioid addiction. It's a powerful episode that is sure to leave viewers with a greater understanding of the opioid epidemic and the urgent need to address it.