ABC30's award-winning "Killer High" documentary series now streaming on Hulu
Five years in the making, the award-winning series chronicles California's fentanyl crisis through stories of hope and loss.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Five years in the making, ABC30's award-winning documentary series "Killer High" is now streaming on Hulu, bringing viewers an unprecedented look at the fentanyl epidemic through the stories of grieving families, people in recovery, law enforcement, medical experts and researchers.
Produced by ABC30, the three-part documentary series earned the 2026 National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Award, the 2026 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, and multiple 2026 Northern California Emmy Award nominations for its in-depth reporting and storytelling.
Spanning five years, the series chronicles the evolution of the fentanyl crisis, from the devastating surge in overdose deaths to the community's growing response through education, prevention and recovery. In Fresno County, fentanyl-related overdose deaths fell from 114 in 2021 to 66 in 2025, a 42% decrease. While progress has been made, the series explores the people behind those numbers and the work that continues to save lives.
Episode 1: The Silent Crisis
The series begins with "The Silent Crisis," an intimate look at the early stages of the fentanyl epidemic in the Central Valley. Through firsthand accounts from grieving parents, investigators, addiction specialists and emergency physicians, the documentary reveals how counterfeit pills and fentanyl-laced drugs transformed the opioid crisis almost overnight.
The episode follows families forever changed by overdose while law enforcement and medical experts explain why fentanyl became one of the deadliest drug threats facing California.
Episode 2: Fentanyl's Grip on California
Four years after the first documentary, the series returns to examine how the crisis has evolved.
At the center of the story is Howie, whose decades-long battle with addiction nearly cost him his life. As he works to rebuild his future in recovery, viewers witness the daily challenges of sobriety, the lasting impact of fentanyl addiction and the determination required to help others find hope. The episode also explores how California's response to the crisis has evolved through expanded education, enforcement and prevention efforts.
Episode 3: Finding Freedom
The final chapter shifts its focus toward healing and the future.
The documentary follows the Patla family as they continue honoring Olivia's memory through fentanyl awareness after her death one day before her high school graduation. It also reunites viewers with Howie, whose recovery journey introduced in Episode 2 leads him to form a close friendship with Danny, another recovering addict. Together, the pair launch Fentanyl Anonymous, a grassroots recovery movement offering a judgment-free community for people seeking sobriety and hope. Alongside those stories, researchers explore promising new approaches to addiction treatment, from mindfulness-based recovery to groundbreaking neuroscience that could one day reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
Together, the three documentaries tell the story of one community's fight against one of the deadliest drug epidemics in modern history. More than a chronicle of addiction, "Killer High" is a story of resilience, recovery and the people determined to ensure fewer families experience the same heartbreak.
The complete "Killer High" documentary series is now streaming on Hulu.