vanguard blog | March 31, 2010 | 25 comments

"The OxyContin Express" Wins Prestigious Peabody Award

Congratulations to correspondent Mariana Van Zeller, producers Darren Foster and Cerissa Tanner, and editor Benita Sills, who have just been named winners of a Peabody Award for "The OxyContin Express."

This prestigious honor recognizes the best work in electronic media. In recognizing "notable documentaries," the Peabody board described the Vanguard piece as "a shocking documentation by Current TV of the extent of prescription-drug abuse in America."

"Every year the Peabody Board faces the daunting task of selecting examples of the most outstanding work in electronic media," said Horace Newcomb, Director of the Peabody Awards. "Our work is made more difficult because every entry is selected by a producer, a studio, a network or cable channel as their best work of the previous year. We begin at the top and have to go even higher."

We'll have more from the team in response today about the ongoing story of Oxy abuse—but right now, please join me in congratulating Mariana, Darren, Cerissa, Benita and everyone at Vanguard who worked on this important documentary.

Watch the full episode and view additional content:

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25 comments // "The OxyContin Express" Wins Prestigious Peabody Award

  • thushari
  • krag2112
  • CaptB
    • 0
      CaptB  

    • I have a problem with this film. I want to say that these practitioners do not sound responsible when prescribing these pain meds from these clinics.

      However, to defend healthcare providers, when a patient presents to you and they state they are 10/10 pain. How do you deny them and say that they are lying when pain truly is subjective? When you do suspect the patient is an addict you can do a consult to a pain management specialist. They do tend to prescribe more liberally because they do want to help. There is an agency (I can't think of the name of it) where providers can look up the name of people who have drug seeking behaviors and providers are not allowed to dispense pain meds to these particular patients. Only their pain management provider can dispense the narcotics. The nerve pain issue related to fibromyalgia or back pain with sciatica and a bulging disc with numbness, how can you deny someone with pain meds that is crying and exhibits signs of parasthesia or numbness?

      If someone openly lies though and is a good actor it is plausible that a patient can take advantage of the system.

      Rush Limbaugh was a famous addict and he was able to just pay for it. So there are practitioners out there that do feed into this problem. I have not heard of this specific problem until this documentary.

      I think this is eye opening and Florida needs to revise their laws immediately. I just don't want people thinking that all healthcare providers are this irresponsible. Especially in this time of healthcare reform.

      Very eye opening though and I give it a thumbs up!

    • 1 year ago
  • keithponder
    • 0
      keithponder  

    • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX6cTQWsma8&feature=related
      The producer of 'Crackheads Gone Wild ' was criticized nationally for making this documentary. He was accused of taking advantage of drug addicts. I fail to see the difference in what Van Zeller's doing.

      I'm not impressed, actually it sickens me to my stomach.

      What happens when Van Zeller help's to buy drugs to someone who's hopelessly addicted, and that person OD's and dies just because you're using him as a stage prop just to a documentary ?

      AMERICAN SOCIETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN MUCH MORE COMPASSIONATE AND TOLERANT OF WHITE DRUG USERS AND THEIR CHOICES OF DRUGS.Where's the criminal stigma in this documentary ?

    • 1 year ago
  • seanalyn
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • vampicorn
    • 0
      vampicorn  

    • This is so awesome. I have goosebumps and tears in my eyes. Congratulations to the whole team. What a great honor and just reward for excellent reporting.

    • 1 year ago
  • sunner14
  • sleepyboy
    • 0
      sleepyboy  

    • Congratulations, I personally enjoyed watching the program and open the eyes of us the viewers of what takes place in our state of Florida, and the educational content. You guys deserve it ;p

    • 1 year ago
  • Satoshi
  • BrittanyL
  • SageRockandRoll
  • Birdieball
  • wellhunggimp
  • PIXELFLIP
    • 0
      PIXELFLIP  

    • I was riveted through and through - gasping at every at every commercial break. Congratulations on such fine work.

      ..and LOL at the bum-the-cigarette ploy Mariana!

    • 1 year ago
  • martabettencourt
  • Confucius
  • luli_was_here
    • 0
      luli_was_here  

    • Well deserved honor in my honest opinion. I became a fan of Vanguard after watching this documentary when it aired. I wouldn't have given a second thought to seeing ads or signs for pain clinics before, but now I can't help but think that more needs to be done to end the abuse.

      I greatly admire the entire Vanguard team for taking risks and making sacrifices to give us a true picture of what is really going on in the world.

    • 1 year ago
  • JanforGore
  • BrushwithDeathToothpaste
  • derk
    • +1
      derk  

    • When I saw Mariana on Dr. Phil I knew she had just broken the story of the year.

      The award also recognizes Todd and Maurine, who had the courage to tell their story and help bring attention to this national epidemic.

    • 1 year ago
  • CalgarC
  • diode
    • 0
      diode  

    • that was a great episode that hopefully gets the attention of the people. pharmaceutical companies are ruining this country, unfortunately no one will stand up against them.

    • 1 year ago
  • CaptB
    • 0
      CaptB  
    • diode:

      Remember when everyone was complaining how much power and wealth that the oil companies weild. Well they are I believe 3rd or 4th on the list of corporations that hold power and wealth. Energy companies I believe are 2nd, and the pharma companies are #1 when it comes to power and wealth. The money that they state is necessary for research is staggering. They sell the exact same meds in Canada and Europe for 1/10th the costs they do in the U.S. They have tried to make it illegal for U.S. citizens to purchase meds from Canada. I don't know if they have slowed the influx.

      I think the real way to impact the pharma companies is producing documentaries and make the public aware of what is occuring. This can then result in legislation being passed or modified to set up for responsible administration of meds.

    • 1 year ago
  • Spiral9
Adam_Yamaguchi

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