In honor of National Recovery Month, Southampton Arts Center will screen “The Crime of the Century,” in collaboration with Blossom Sustainable Development and Judge Deborah Kooperstein (retired) on Saturday, September 24, at 6 PM.
The film shines a necessary light on the over-production, reckless distribution, and mass abuse of synthetic opiates. Preceding the film, a panel discussion will take place with several experts and members of Shinnecock Nation.
“With September being National Recovery Month and a time where we acknowledge National Suicide Awareness, I think the showing of the movie ‘The Crime of the Century’ will provide greater insight regarding prescription drug misuse and how it has negatively impacted entire communities,” shared Meesha Johnson, Blossom Sustainable Development MSW CASAC-T Program Director and SAMHSA Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Project. “I also believe this event will provide viewers with a greater understanding about how to effectively address this epidemic, and maybe, just maybe, this will also confirm the necessity to return to the ways of our ancestors who truly relied on Mother Earth and her resources to deal with ailments of all kinds. I would also like to thank the staff at Southampton Arts Center for providing us with the venue and the safe-space where we can talk openly about an issue that has the potential to impact us all in some way.”
“The Crime of the Century” is a searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable over-production, reckless distribution, and mass abuse of synthetic opiates. Exploring the origins, extent, and fallout of one of the most devastating public health tragedies of our time, with half a million deaths from overdoses this century alone, the film reveals that America’s opioid epidemic is not a public health crisis that came out of nowhere.
Panelists Meesha Johnson and Judge Deborah Kooperstein of counsel to the firm Messina, Perillo & Hill LLP will also be joined by Shinnecock Nation Member Micah Hunter and Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC), and instructor at the Molloy University Addiction Studies Program Jim Mullan.
“Opioid and alcohol addiction affects our entire community,” shared SAC board member and programming advisor Elyn Kronemeyer. “By screening ‘The Crime of the Century’ and presenting a panel discussion of experts, Southampton Arts Center looks forward to facilitating a dialogue which will contribute to greater understanding of the issues and solutions for healing. We are grateful to Micah Hunter, Meesha Johnson, Judge Deborah Kooperstein, and Jim Mullen for their participation in this event.”
Tickets are free and are available at southamptonartscenter.org/film.