Southwest Missouri schools are hoping prevention is the key when it comes to the growing trend of opioid abuse.

Breaking the cycle of drug addiction can be challenging and take a long time. It’s not a matter of simply taking away the drugs, it’s a mental and physical battle. Tonight, in our series, A Shot in the Dark: Shedding Light on the Opioid Crisis, we take a look at what “New Directions,” a branch of Freeman Health System does to fix both.

Opioid addiction affects more than two million Americans every year. But the damage caused is far greater when you consider the friends and family members impacted by the abuse.

In America, you’re now more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than a car crash.

Tonight we continue our focus on the opioid epidemic. And while it affects pharmacies, police and ER’s, the toll is likely greatest for the user and their loved ones.

We continue our year long series: “A Shot in the Dark: Shedding Light on the Opioid Crisis.“

As the issue of opioid abuse has risen to a national crisis, we continue to look into how it’s impacting Southwest Missouri. In the next part of our series, “A Shot in the Dark — Shedding Light on the Opioid Crisis,” Jessica Schaer finds out how prescription drug abuse has affected the local homeless population.

Undergoing surgery is painful for anyone, and a healthy recovery is the important time. But what if you suffer from addiction to opioids? As part of our series, A Shot in the Dark: Shedding Light on the Opioid Crisis, KSN's Austin Hyslip explores how doctors at Freeman Health System are dealing with this in Joplin.

As opioids continue to tear families apart in the Four States, emergency services are facing new problems.

Tonight we continue our look into the opioid epidemic sweeping not only the nation, but the Four States. In our series “Shot in the Dark – Shedding Light on the Opioid Crisis,” we look at the pressure put on pharmacies to keep opioids out of the wrong hands.