GBH Openvault
NOVA; Case of the Frozen Addict, The
Part of From the Vault.
02/18/1986
In July 1982, a 42-year-old addict in a San Jose, California jail became paralyzed--unable to move or talk. His symptoms, caused by a bad batch of synthetic heroin, were indistinguishable from those associated with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative nerve disorder that strikes the elderly. NOVA traces the story of a "designer" drug which could lead to a major medical breakthrough. When a drug addict suffers a mysterious ailment, doctors trace his symptoms to an additive he ingested in a bad batch of heroin. His case helps to unlock some mysteries about Parkinson's Disease. The documentary examines current treatments for Parkinson's Disease as well as efforts to understand and find treatments for the ailment. Summary and select metadata for this record was submitted by Miriam Posner.
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- Series
- NOVA
- Program
- Case of the Frozen Addict, The
- Program Number
1305
- Series Description
Premiered March 1974 NOVA is a general-interest documentary series that addresses a single science issue each week. Billed as "science adventures for curious grown-ups" when it first aired in March, 1974, NOVA continues to offer an informative and entertaining approach to a challenging subject. 1996 marked NOVA's 23rd season, which makes it the longest-running science program on national television. It is also one of television's most acclaimed series, having won every major television award, most of them many times over. Series release date: 3/3/1974
- Program Description
In July 1982, a 42-year-old addict in a San Jose, California jail became paralyzed--unable to move or talk. His symptoms, caused by a bad batch of synthetic heroin, were indistinguishable from those associated with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative nerve disorder that strikes the elderly. NOVA traces the story of a "designer" drug which could lead to a major medical breakthrough.
- Duration
00:55:25
- Asset Type
Broadcast program
- Media Type
Video
- Subjects
- Heroin
- Neurology
- Parkinson's Disease
- Dopa
- Drug Abuse
- Drug use
- Dopamine
- Drugs--Research
- Heroin Abuse
- Toxicology
- Designer Drugs
- Neurosciences
- Genres
- Documentary
- Topics
- Science
- Contributors
- Williams, Andrea (Film Editor)
- Hunter, Celeste A. (Other (see note))
- Morrison, Donna (Assistant Cameraman)
- Palfreman, Jon (Writer)
- Chalifoux, Susan (Other (see note))
- Garmon, Linda (Other (see note))
- DeMarco, Susan (Assistant Director)
- Hensel-Gallagher, Linda (Other (see note))
- Shea, Mary-Kate (Other (see note))
- Patterson, Josephine (Other (see note))
- Coyne, Queene (Other (see note))
- LIfsey, Angela (Other (see note))
- Grant, William (Other (see note))
- Anderson, Betsy (Associate Producer)
- Morrison, Terry (Cameraperson)
- Souza, Paul (Other (see note))
- Apsell, Paula S. (Executive Producer)
- Pugliesi, Joe (Other (see note))
- Kane, Daniel (Other (see note))
- Wescott, Don (Narrator)
- Powell, Steve (Sound)
- Frey, Ellen (Other (see note))
- Fitzpatrick, John (Sound)
- Joyce, Edward T. (Other (see note))
- Waite, John (Assistant Editor)
- Fink, Peter (Other (see note))
- Bock, Richard (Sound)
- Foley, Jack (Other (see note))
- Vitagliano, Joe (Cameraperson)
- Kelly, Greg (Assistant Cameraman)
- Bloom, Charlie (Other (see note))
- Publication Information
- A WGBH Boston/BBC TV coproduction
- Citation
- Chicago: “NOVA; Case of the Frozen Addict, The,” 02/18/1986, GBH Archives, accessed April 20, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_474CF2C8A20B4173988486AC4C605A3C.
- MLA: “NOVA; Case of the Frozen Addict, The.” 02/18/1986. GBH Archives. Web. April 20, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_474CF2C8A20B4173988486AC4C605A3C>.
- APA: NOVA; Case of the Frozen Addict, The. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_474CF2C8A20B4173988486AC4C605A3C