Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Caught in the Crack Epidemic

    In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, reporter Ruben Castaneda wasn’t just covering the crack epidemic for the Washington Post — he was also taking part in it. While reporting on D.C. mayor Marion Barry’s downfall after being caught using the drug, Castaneda was hooked on it himself.

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • Jul 14, 2014 • 1 min read

    In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, reporter Ruben Castaneda wasn’t just covering the crack epidemic for the Washington Post — he was also taking part in it. While reporting on D.C. mayor Marion Barry’s downfall after being caught using the drug, Castaneda was hooked on it himself.

    The full episode

    4 of 5
    Undocumented Children in Bell, Amazon TV and Caught in the Crack Epidemic
    1. 0:00Bell Mayor Vows to Help Immigrant Children
    2. 8:22Close-up on Guatemala
    3. 17:17Fall TV Preview
    4. 26:33Caught in the Crack EpidemicYou’re reading this
    5. 42:30Remembering Nadine Gordimer
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Andrew Walsh

      Too Beautiful to Live

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ruben Castaneda

      author, 'S Street Rising'

      News

    The full episode

    4 of 5
    Undocumented Children in Bell, Amazon TV and Caught in the Crack Epidemic
    1. 0:00Bell Mayor Vows to Help Immigrant Children
    2. 8:22Close-up on Guatemala
    3. 17:17Fall TV Preview
    4. 26:33Caught in the Crack EpidemicYou’re reading this
    5. 42:30Remembering Nadine Gordimer
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand