We are in the midst of one of the deadliest epidemics in American history — even accounting for a recent decline in drug-related deaths. As a society, we cannot expect to prevent such meaningless tragedies without first grappling with why they are happening. Behind each statistic is a story, and, if my daughter Regan’s is any guide, a complex one. Simple solutions may sound appealing, but they do not exist.

I am Alison Craiglow, an Emmy- and Peabody-Award winning journalist, storyteller, and longtime audio producer. As the host of this podcast I will deliver an urgent, heartbreaking tale I am uniquely positioned to share. Over seven unabashedly honest episodes I will examine:

my daughter’s personal struggles
the family and social factors that may have contributed to or exacerbated her substance use
the systemic shortcomings of our local and national approaches to treatment
the inclination to self-medicate that drives so much substance abuse
my own struggles with how best to help Regan
the treatment dynamics that often promise more than they can deliver
and the current cutting-edge thinking on what drives substance use disorder

I will tease apart the many fragile threads in the fabric of a life that ended tragically too soon, and how they might have been strengthened or mended, if we, collectively, only knew how and were willing to do so.

My ambitions for this podcast are to spark a critical examination of America’s failure to adequately address this epidemic — and to inspire a national commitment to dramatically reduce the number of lives and families disrupted and destroyed by substance abuse.

I aim for wide distribution in late 2025/early 2026 on a major podcast platform and for exposure through promotion on established podcasts and other media outlets. For more about my experience and my access to these opportunities, please see my Home and Work pages.

Donations are tax deductible through the fiscal sponsorship program of the Association of Independents in Radio, a 501(c)(3). For questions about the project, contact me here.

Thank you for your support.

Your contribution will fund:

Executive producer/host/writer
Story editing
Sound design
Research and fact-checking
Travel for interviews
Equipment and studio rental
Marketing
Legal
Insurance

Audio Documentary: A Daughter's Death from Fentanyl

On New Year’s Day, 2024, my 22-year old daughter Regan died from fentanyl. She was one of approximately 80,000 Americans to die that year from consuming an illicit substance. How does such a tragedy come to pass?

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