The Drug Czar — Day 16
Genre: Drama / Psychological Thriller
Premise: Something unthinkable has occurred in the US's War On Drugs: progress. After decades of ineffectiveness, the amount of drug users seeking treatment has increased tenfold over the past 6 months, and the overall volume of illicit drugs sold has begun to rapidly fall. The remarkable turn-around is attributed to two factors: 1) the aggressive tactics of America's new Drug Czar, Colleen Hernandez, and her Anti-Drug Enforcement Agency, and 2) the tragic death by over-dose of huge percentages of the drug-using population over the past 6-8 months.
The country and the presidential administration are quick to pat themselves on the back and declare victory. But an investigative reporter named Marie Carter has decided to get to the bottom of whatever forces are actually causing the reversal. Carter begins by asking hard questions around the traditional drug distribution centers of the South West. Soon, her investigation leads her to something shocking: Many of the deaths were not technically overdoes—but the result of tainted supplies. Drug users are dropping like flies from coast to coast because someone is intentionally adding poison into the supply chain of illegal drugs. And the closer the reporter turns her attention to The Drug Czar, the more tight-lipped—and scared—people become.
Soon, the reporter is followed everywhere by unmarked cars. Her home and office are broken into and ransacked. Death threats and suggestions to "drop it" come flying at her like darts. Her newspaper drops their sponsorship of her investigation. And the deeper Carter digs, the scarier the clues become. Finally, she is left with a terrible question: Is it possible that our own government is responsible for poisoning the supply of illegal drugs and killing its own citizens? Just how far would the nation's Drug Czar go to fulfill her mission, and how wide in the government does the cancer spread? And if our reporters finds the definitive proof, will she live long enough to share it with the public and stop the murderous plot?