Listen To The Silence: Women Trapped in the Opioid Epidemic

Watch The Trailers to Part One & Part Two

LISTEN TO THE SILENCE is a nationally acclaimed, two-part documentary by Diva Communications,
examining the hopes and heartaches of the women — our daughters, mothers, sisters, friends –
suffering from opioid addiction. Some survived and some did not.

It is the first, the only documentary that focuses on women impacted by the opioid epidemic.
Women have been invisible. As a result, their needs have been ignored.
Resources have been divvied up by men, for men, with scant thought for women.

REVIEWS

“Listen to the Silence: Women Lost in the Opioid Crisis” is a ﬁlm that needs to be seen, discussed and shared widely. It will challenge viewers to think critically about the ways in which we currently address addiction, gender and racial equity in healthcare and how we must support those who are struggling.

Kathleen Brughelli

Opioid Grants Coordinator, Newport County Prevention Coalition

The film exquisitely captures the tragic harm that happens to women and their families when society ignores and marginalizes women with substance use disorders. It also shines a light of truth on the perseverance and resilience of women to find recovery despite the numerous obstacles placed in their path. It is a must-see film for anyone in medicine, the criminal legal system, social services, and policy-making.

Hendrée E. Jones, PhD

Executive & Division Director, UNC Horizons; Professor, Dept of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A haunting, heartbreaking, and tragically truthful look at women and opioids. This film shares the stories of women, and their families, that we need to hear, and will never forget. A powerful, important and much-needed film.

Celestina Barbosa-Leiker, PhD

Executive Vice Chancellor for Research & Administration, Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane

This documentary provides viewers insight into the humanity behind the opioid crisis. Pregnant people and women living with, in recovery from, or tragically dead from opioid use disorder are more than statistics. They are our neighbors, friends, and family members. This film treats a very complex community problem with respect and compassion and is a call to action for communities.

Kirstin Johnson, CNM

Director of Women's Health, CHAS Health, Maple Street Clinic

OMG. I am sitting here in emotional shock. Just finished watching. Speechless. So powerful, extremely well written. The Photography stunning and impactful. The entire film so moving.

Cory Amron

President, Women Lawyers on Guard

Debra Gonsher Vinik’s documentary, “Listen to the Silence” is a moving experience for the viewer – touching on the all too real truth of the forgotten women of the opioid epidemic. Debra’s passion for the work and compassion for the women she highlights jumps from the screen, grabs the viewer and inspires action. Listen to the Silence is an unforgettable film.

Rebecca Elwell, MA, ACPS

Executive Director, Strategic Prevention Partnerships, Inc

A gut-wrenchingly real look at the unique challenges faced by women battling Substance Use Disorder. This film begs the question, “What now?” and demands that society pay attention.

Eliza Foltz

CRO, Pretaa, Inc.

This incredibly compelling film breaks new ground by featuring the voices of women, particularly minoritized women, who have been disproportionately affected in the overdose epidemic- it is essential viewing for anyone interested in equity and inclusion and compassionate SUD care.

Alёna A. Balasanova, MD, FAPA

Director, Addiction Psychiatry Education, University of Nebraska Medical Center

As a mental wellness advocate I wasn’t aware of the lack of attention given to women in this opioid epidemic. Debra and David Vinik really did a phenomenal job with this!

Jeff Johnston

Founder, The Living Undeterred Project; Choices Network

Listen to the Silence is an incredibly powerful film, a virtual call to arms that turns the viewer’s attention to a critical piece of the drug crisis that is threatening the very fabric of our society. If we as a country truly want to make progress in reducing homelessness, drug addiction, mental illness, suicide, school violence and crime, we’d be well served to devote both our attention and our resources to the Women Trapped in the Opioid Epidemic and their babies.

Shaun Cross

President & CEO, Maddies Place, Spokane, Washington

The Experts

Nora Volkow, M.D.

Director, National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Dr. Volkow’s work has been instrumental in demonstrating that drug addiction is a brain disorder. As a research psychiatrist, Dr. Volkow pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate how substance use affects brain functions. In particular, her studies have documented that changes in the dopamine system affect the functions of frontal brain regions involved with reward and self-control in addiction.

Marvin Seppala, M.D.

Former Chief Medical Officer, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

He is responsible for the Comprehensive Opioid Response with the Twelve Steps (COR-12), an innovative effort launched in 2012 to integrate medication-assisted treatment with clinical therapies and Twelve Step-based and other peer support to treat opioid use disorder in a specialized addiction treatment setting—work that is influencing other providers nationally.

Ayana Jordan, M.D./ Ph.D.

Adult Psychiatry, NYU/Langone Health

Ayana Jordan, MD, PhD, a renowned expert in addiction and other mental health conditions in underserved populations. She joined NYU Langone Health’s Department of Psychiatry as the Barbara Wilson Associate Professor of Psychiatry. Her clinical and research studies focus on increasing access to evidence-based treatments for racial and ethnic minorities with substance use and other mental health disorders, utilizing community-engaged research principles.

Michael Fingerhood, M.D.

Director, Division of Addiction Medicine, Johns Hopkins University

As an associate professor of medicine and public health, his areas of clinical expertise include addiction medicine and internal medicine. Dr. Fingerhood’s research interests include substance use disorders, contingency management, hepatitis C and HIV

Faith Leaders

Rev. Annalee Korengel

Rabbi Mark Borovitz

Sister Judith Ann Duvall

The Filmmakers

DEBRA GONSHER VINIK & DAVID VINIK have produced 20 broadcast documentaries and received six Emmy awards for their films over the years. With an emphasis on social justice issues such as hunger in America, healthcare, intimate partner violence and the struggle of refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants, Diva Communications has always tried to make a difference.

Donate

Click Here to donate to our IMPACT CAMPAIGN for LISTEN TO THE SILENCE.
You will be directed to our fiscal sponsor, The Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, a 501 (C)(3), to donate a tax-deductible contribution to help us advocate for more resources and treatment options for women suffering from OUD.

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