The Most Heartbreaking Moment From Chicago P.D. Season 6
The hit television show "Chicago P.D." has incredible highs and abyssal lows. An integral part of the One Chicago franchise, "Chicago P.D." is about the personal and professional lives of the Windy City's law enforcement officers, each with their own struggles and motivations. Sergeant Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) is the head of the Intelligence Unit, and his personality is marked by explosive anger, though it is often tempered by his dedication to the law. Detective Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) is a self-assured police officer who is a brother of a "Chicago Med" character, while Officer Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) is an enthusiastic officer who wants to make a difference.
Season 6 of "Chicago P.D." deals with some hard-hitting issues and moments. The very first episode of Season 6 begins with a plot involving the death of a fellow officer, and the drama only increases throughout the season. Other storylines involve human trafficking, kidnapping, the murder of a lawyer, the suspicious death of a boyfriend, and a corrupt mayoral candidate with aims of shutting down investigations, just to name a few.
Considering all that transpires during Season 6 of "Chicago P.D.," what would we consider to be the most heartbreaking moment?
Dawson's drug addiction leads to a devastating moment
The moment in question comes from Episode 9 of Season 6, titled "Descent," although the groundwork for the story is established in Episode 4, "Ride Along." That episode sees Detective Antonio Dawson (John Seda) becoming addicted to the potent painkiller oxycodone. The addiction becomes all-consuming for Dawson, and he begins to engage in illicit drug deals in order to obtain the prescription narcotic.
This plot progresses through several episodes, but reaches a crescendo in "Descent." This particular episode shows Dawson interacting with dangerous drug dealers, which demonstrates how much the officer is struggling with his addiction. During one of his excursions to purchase drugs, Dawson's co-workers are called to a serendipitous raid on the location he is in. He tries to flee, only to be apprehended by his friends. He provides a weak alibi, but then later gets arrested again by Sergeant Voight while trying to purchase drugs on the street.
This whole story arc is heartbreaking because it shows how quickly drug addiction can spiral out of control. Being arrested by his fellow officers truly marks one of the lowest points in Dawson's life, and one that sees the character completely change. In 2021, over 100,000 people died of drug overdoses, which is a 28.5% increase from the previous year (via CDC). This grim statistic highlights just how dangerous addiction can truly be, and how quickly it comes to dominate people's lives.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).