Killer High:
The Series

Killer High: The Series was created as a continuation of Killer High: The Silent Crisis, our 2021 documentary on the growing fentanyl epidemic in Central California. Rather than focusing on statistics and headlines, we committed to telling the human stories behind the crisis, following families affected by loss, individuals battling addiction and recovery, and community members working toward solutions. By staying with these stories over time, we showed how fentanyl was impacting lives long after the news cycle moved on.

To do that, we built a 12-month investigative reporting project instead of a traditional one-off documentary. Each month, we produced a new long-form installment that explored a different aspect of the crisis, from prevention and treatment to recovery, enforcement, and emerging medical research. The stories aired in ABC30 Action News' most-watched newscasts before being compiled into two half-hour specials. The series also expanded beyond the local market through national distribution on ABC News Live and Hulu via Disney+, bringing a community-focused investigation to audiences across the country.

The project earned the NAB Service to America Award and a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for its journalism and public service impact. More importantly, it helped spark conversations in homes, schools, and communities throughout the region. Since the launch of the series, fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the area have declined by 42%, demonstrating the potential for sustained, solutions-focused storytelling to create meaningful community impact.