Addiction Recovery | 5 min read

Must-Watch Documentaries About Addiction

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Key Points

Key Points

They have the ability to capture the attention of the viewer and inspire them to make a difference. Documentaries on substance abuse give insight into the lives of addicts, as well as the effects it has on their relationships and health. Here are 10 documentaries that you should not miss about drug addiction.

10 Documentaries You Need to See About Addiction & Recovery

These films can be graphic and may depict violence, drug use, alcohol and paraphernalia.

Heroin(e)

Heroin(e), was filmed in West Virginia. It features three women, a fire chief and a judge. They live and work in the epicenter of America’s opioid crisis. The film’s main focus is on the front lines of America’s opioid crisis. This town of approximately 95,000 people is experiencing alarming levels of opioid abuse.

Ten percent of the population is dependent on opioids and schedule IV drugs. The powerful insight into the opioid crisis, from three different leadership positions, earned it an Oscar nomination and an Emmy award for Outstanding Short Documentary. You can watch it on Netflix.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

Understanding The Opioid Epidemic a documentary about drug addiction, focuses on the stories and experiences of those who have been affected by opioids. It examines the causes and the devastating effects it has had on millions of Americans.

Russell Brand From Addiction to Recovery

Russell Brand Addiction to Recovery may be the most famous documentary about addiction on Netflix. The film chronicles the star’s struggle with heroin addiction and his recovery. It challenges conventional theories and breaks down stigma surrounding addiction.

Heroin: Cape Cod, USA

We couldn’t miss a documentary about a Massachusetts addiction treatment center. Heroin Cape Cod is a documentary that was shot in “cinema-verite”. It shows the heroin epidemic in small communities and towns across the U.S. with a particular focus on eight young heroin addicts from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Because 80% heroin users began with prescription painkillers and as more states legalize marijuana the Mexican cartel is pushing cheap heroin onto the streets. One area that has been particularly affected by the heroin epidemic is Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a picturesque summer vacation spot. 1

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Do No Harm: The Opioid Epidemic

Another documentary on the opioid epidemic, Don’t Harm,, was shot at ground zero in Seattle (Kentucky) and ground zero New Hampshire. Eye-opening stories are shared by recovering addicts and their families, as well as those who lost loved ones due to the opioid crisis. The film features the perspectives of top doctors and law enforcement officers, and focuses on the failures to hold drug companies accountable for the crisis.

The documentary also examines the monies received by legislators and provides positive insights into facilities offering long-term opioid addiction treatment.

Recovery Boys

Recovery Boys follows four men as they go through treatment for drug addiction and recover. The men’s perspectives on the ups and downs of rehabilitation are shown as they go through them. The viewers can see them reconcile their broken relationships and rebuild their lives. Recovery Boys is a great documentary about addiction recovery. It shows the triumphs and struggles of sobriety.

Addicted: America’s Opioid Crisis

The film opens with children discussing the opioid addictions of their parents. Children talk about their fear, abandonment and horrifying experiences, which will stay with them throughout their lives. As the documentary examines, investigates and exposes the horrors of the opioid epidemic, their comments provide a backdrop.

This film gives a glimpse into the lives and struggles of different people who are affected by the opioid epidemic. People who are addicted and unable to live sober, productive lives. Parents who have lost their children due to drug overdose. Agents of drug enforcement who fight to stop drug shipment. Overworked drug counselors. It also features a Purdue Pharma whistleblower who exposed the drug company’s shameful practices.

The House I Live in

The House In is another documentary about the U.S. drug crisis. This film offers a wider view than most other films, as it covers the War on Drugs and the opioid epidemic. The film shows how drug addiction is leading to millions of people being imprisoned each year. It also examines the U.S. government’s criminal approach towards what experts call a serious health problem. The documentary also highlights the positive and negative aspects of the country’s addiction treatment approach.

The Anonymous People

This documentary features over 23 million people who have recovered from alcohol and drug abuse. The Anonymous People is a movement that identifies parents, siblings, and children as the ones who bring power and evidence of recovery to their communities. This documentary is engaging and aims to show the world how addicts really are.

The film inspired a global movement to change drug laws. Instead of helping people find medical detox and treatment, they are incarcerated for their addictions. This movie is a representation of millions of people and families who have been affected by drug and alcohol addiction. This film can provide inspiration and hope for those in recovery from addiction.

Montana Meth

This documentary dives deep into the effects of methamphetamine addiction. The film tells the story of several people living in a Montana small-town. It includes a young woman who uses prostitution to get her drugs; an athlete who was gifted and then turned into a meth addict; and a member of the Chippewa Cree tribe, a 22-year old Chippewa Cree who began using methamphetamines at the age of 11. Montana Meth focuses on the physical effects of methamphetamine addiction, which includes skin lesions, tooth decay and paranoia.

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Are You Struggling with Addiction?

If you haven’t been directly affected by drug abuse, it’s easy for people to forget just how common it is. Millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse every single day. Many of them don’t get the help they deserve. Our inpatient and outpatient drug rehabilitation can help if you or someone you love is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.

Change Can Start Sooner Than You Think

If you haven’t been directly affected by drug abuse, it’s easy for people to forget just how common it is. Millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse every single day. Many of them don’t get the help they deserve. Our inpatient and outpatient drug rehabilitation can help if you or someone you love is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Is Alcohol Addiction Diagnosed?

There are a variety of ways you can diagnose yourself, or help a loved one diagnose themselves and seek treatment. Your primary care provider might also ask a series of questions or refer you to a mental health specialist who can diagnose you with alcohol use disorder.

If you answer yes to most of those questions above, it might be time to seek help from an alcohol counseling specialist or treatment center. If your family or loved ones feel you would benefit from attending an alcohol treatment center, it could also be a sign you need help even if you feel you don’t need it. Other signs you might need help include:

Inpatient and outpatient treatments both have advantages and drawbacks. Inpatient treatment offers a greater level of support and accountability, and generally has better program completion rates. The downside is that inpatient treatment is inconvenient and typically requires time away from work/home.

Are You Struggling with Addiction?

If you haven’t been directly affected by drug abuse, it’s easy for people to forget just how common it is. Millions of Americans struggle with substance abuse every single day. Many of them don’t get the help they deserve. Our inpatient and outpatient drug rehabilitation can help if you or someone you love is suffering from drug or alcohol addiction.

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There are a variety of ways you can diagnose yourself, or help a loved one diagnose themselves and seek treatment. Your primary care provider might also ask a series of questions or refer you to a mental health specialist who can diagnose you with alcohol use disorder.