The OxyContin Express

"To me, it's one of the most disturbing aspects of our culture... Second only to war. The idea that there are massive corporations profiting off of these people becoming zombies." -- Joe Rogan



In the U.S., more people are now abusing prescription drugs than heroin, cocaine and ecstasy combined. For "The OxyContin Express", Marianna Van Zeller and Darren Foster traveled to ground zero of the epidemic, South Florida, the "Colombia of prescription drugs."

Doctors in Florida prescribe Oxy at five times the national average. This flood of pills has had a devastating effect in Florida, where three times as many people are now overdosing from prescription medication than from illegal drugs.

"As in the '80s and '90s cocaine was a big thing, now prescriptions have just exploded," says Sgt. Richard Pisanti of the Broward County Sheriff's Office. "Pablo Escobar couldn't have had it so good," says Kentucky Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, "It's basically 'come here, give us cash and we'll give you a prescription."