I'm Jay Lassiter, a former IV drug user who found the grace to amend my life. For 12 episodes of "Heroin Uncut: The Truth About the Crisis," I've been sharing not only my own stories, but those of people on the frontlines of our statewide battle against addiction. It was originally my intention to end this series on a hopeful note. But here's the thing: I'm not hopeful. Not even a little bit. Heroin Uncut is a special project of NJ1015.com and Townsquare Media. New full episodes every Saturday. Get more information -- and resources -- at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is addiction to drugs a disease? How about alcohol dependence? It's an ongoing debate in the media, around kitchen tables, and online -- Especially with with New Jersey's opiate crisis getting more and more out of control. I know my answer. But I want to be clear: Heroin addicts who won't admit the role they played in their own misfortune will not succeed in recovery.  Heroin Uncut is a special project of NJ1015.com and Townsquare Media. New full episodes every Saturday. Get more information -- and resources -- at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rehab, jail and hard truths: What addicts say we don't understand Vince, Erik and Brian are on their way to being addiction success stories. They're each working hard to put their lives back together after years of drugs and poor choices -- and they're getting a lot of help. But they also know how the system can fail people like them. 28-day rehab "oil changes?" Useless. Jail? Destructive. Love and support? Hard to find, but when you do, life-changing. Heroin Uncut is a special project of NJ1015.com and Townsquare Media. New full episodes every Saturday. Get more information -- and resources -- at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the matter with our drug policy? Under federal law and in many U.S. states, marijuana remains illegal -- even though it's far safer than many of the substances we can all get our hands on. Fake an injury and a few hours later, you can have a handful of perfectly legal opioids that start you on a deadly path to addiction. In this episode of Heroin Uncut: The Truth About the Crisis, Jay Lassiter explores the contradictions that kill in our drug policy. More episodes, videos and info at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Addiction has touched so many lives throughout New Jersey -- and some of those bringing stories of the state's opioid crisis know that better than others. In this edition of Heroin Uncut, we connect with reporters who've done groundbreaking work inspired in part by their own addiction journeys and those of the people around them. More episodes, videos and info at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carter Stone was a Jersey boy. And when he died of a heroin overdose at the age of 32, his grieving family was predictably distraught -- like any other family in their position would be. But what's different about this family is the message it left behind. But it's his obituary -- and the frank tale it told of a man in recovery who made one horrible choice -- that caught our attention.  More episodes, videos and info at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We didn't get here by accident -- there are plenty of people responsible, through greed, shortsightenedness or simple lack of concern for New Jersey's opioid crisis. Some of the most powerful individuals and entities in Trenton have a lot to answer for. In this latest episode of Heroin Uncut, Jay Lassiter identifies some of those to blame -- and celebrates some of those getting us back on the right path. More episodes, videos and info at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been following Heroin Uncut, you've already met Anthony -- the recovering addict who told us what it was like to be revived with Narcan. But what happened next is what's extraordinary. Anthony's a reminder that people suffering from addiction aren't a waste -- they've got dreams. They've got ambitions. They've got potential. More episodes, videos and info at HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are dozens of examples why opioids, legal and illegal, are big business -- reasons why vested interests want to keep you addicted and coming back for more. Heroin Uncut is a special project of NJ1015.com and Townsquare Media. New full episodes every Saturday. Get more information -- and resources -- at http://HeroinUncut.com. Follow HeroinUncut on Twitter and Facebook @HeroinUncut. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Narcan has been deployed over 18,000 times to reverse an opiate-induced Overdose in our home state of New Jersey alone. It's an undisputed life-saver. It's also a sign of just how far down the opiates abyss we've fallen. In this latest episode of Heroin Uncut, Jay makes the case for prevention and treatment -- for avoiding the need for Narcan entirely. And he talks to someone who's been brought back from the brink. Videos from Heroin Uncut at: https://goo.gl/YnqKSu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.