Watch How to Fix a Drug Scandal

How to Fix a Drug Scandal is a true crime documentary series from Netflix that explores the shocking story of two former chemists who tampered with evidence and destroyed countless people's lives over a period of several years. The series is directed by Erin Lee Carr, who is known for her incisive and hard-hitting documentaries about issues like addiction, criminal justice, and human rights.

The show focuses on the case of Annie Dookhan and Sonja Farak, who were both chemists working for the Massachusetts State Police crime lab in the early 2010s. Dookhan was the first to be exposed, when it was discovered that she had been falsifying drug test results for years, leading to the wrongful convictions of thousands of people. Farak's case was even more shocking, as it was revealed that she had been using the drugs she was testing for her own personal use, and had been stealing from the samples in order to support her addiction.

The series is structured around interviews with various people connected to the case, including lawyers, journalists, and law enforcement officials, as well as with some of the people whose lives were directly affected by the scandal. The interviews are intercut with archival footage from courtrooms, news broadcasts, and police investigations, as well as with re-enactments of key moments from the story.

One of the most impressive things about How to Fix a Drug Scandal is the way it manages to balance the various perspectives on the case, without ever losing sight of the human cost of the crimes. On the one hand, the series explores the institutional failures that allowed Dookhan and Farak to get away with their crimes for so long, and the devastating consequences this had for the people they affected. On the other hand, it also delves into the personal stories of the two women themselves, exploring their motivations, their backgrounds, and their eventual fates.

The series is anchored by the performances of Shannon O'Neill as Dookhan and Karl Kenzler as Farak, both of whom bring a great deal of empathy and complexity to their roles. O'Neill in particular is a standout, managing to imbue her character with a kind of tragic pathos that makes it easier to understand how someone could become so consumed by their own desires and addictions.

Throughout the four episodes of the series, there are many twists and turns, as new information is uncovered and new players enter the scene. But what makes How to Fix a Drug Scandal so compelling is not just the plot, but the way it raises larger questions about the nature of justice, the role of science in the legal system, and the human toll of addiction and corruption.

Overall, How to Fix a Drug Scandal is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary series that will leave you shaken and disturbed, but also informed and enlightened. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime, justice, or the way our society deals with drug addiction and substance abuse.

How to Fix a Drug Scandal is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between April 1, 2020 and on Netflix