East Tennessee Is In The Crosshairs Of The Drug Traffic
A key factor driving the opioid epidemic in Roane County is its location along several interstate highways known to be popular with cross-country drug traffickers. "The Appalachia region is arguably the epicenter of this crisis," say federal officials, who include many parts of East Tennessee in the so-called Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
Fighting Drug Trafficking In Southern Appalachia
In this story, we follow Roane County sheriff's deputies through their nightly rounds in East Tennessee. Teams of officers check in on drug court participants and operate a pre-dawn drug trafficking checkpoint on the front lines of the region's opioid epidemic.
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Jess MadorJess Mador is the creator of TruckBeat for WUOT. She's an award-winning public radio and multimedia journalist who has produced stories for news organizations around the country, including Minnesota Public Radio, NPR News and PBS member stations. She has a Master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Phil BattaPhil Batta is an award-winning cinematographer and director who specializes in creating short-form documentaries and visually rich multiplatform media for social impact. His work appears on PBS, The New Yorker, UK Channel 4, ITN, The Guardian, ABC7, CNN and ITVS. He's also shot and edited projects honored as official selections at international film festivals and exhibitions. Batta is currently directing two documentaries exploring youth social justice and gender equality.
