Addiction
Friday, June 11th, 2010 at
10:39 pm
- The feature length documentary film ADDICTION brings together the nation’s leading experts on drug and alcohol addiction with a collection of award-winning filmmakers to shed light on addiction, its causes and the latest and most prominent developments in treatments. Its focus is on case studies and new medical treatments. A supplementary series of 13 short films delves deeper into the various dim
Description
The feature length documentary film ADDICTION brings together the nation’s leading experts on drug and alcohol addiction with a collection of award-winning filmmakers to shed light on addiction, its causes and the latest and most prominent developments in treatments. Its focus is on case studies and new medical treatments. A supplementary series of 13 short films delves deeper into the various dimensions of addiction.DVD Features:
Documentary:Includes 3 dis… More >>
Tagged with: Addiction
Filed under: Treating Alcoholism
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Fantastic. I have been sober for 7 years. As an alcoholic in recovery I have read and studied an awful lot about this topic. Unlike any single item I’ve read, listened to, or watched this documentary covers this disease from every angle. When clean and sober we addicts don’t ask for sympathy just understanding. This documentary shows how those we affected need the same. If you are having a problem or are a family member; please get this and watch it. If you are in the health field or a friend of someone in trouble; please get this and watch it. I you feel like alcoholics should just have a couple and stop; please get this and watch it. What a great job they did educating us all on this disease. Thank you guys for such a great job!
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a long overdue documentary. It’s phenomenal in that it covers almost every aspect of addiction there is including the ER perspective and the challenges with health insurance.
As a healthcare professional, I am frequently astounded by the response I receive when I ask patients what they have lost as a result of their addiction. While the responses range from jobs to cars and money, the room often becomes a lot quieter when the responses include children, families and identity. – This documentary hits on those difficult issues and several others which are present today and continue to present challenges for patients, families and healthcare providers. There is a long way to go – this documentary is a nice step forward.
Rating: 5 / 5
this is an incredibly powerful documentary that looks at addiction from many different angles. it’s about time light has been shed on the subject- light that can burn anyone and then fade out before you know it.
millions of americans struggle with addiction and most of them can’t get help. chances are, you’re affected by addiction in one way or another (yourself, a friend, a family member..) and this documentary does a fantastic job at helping to remove the stigmas from the disease and show the struggles on the way down as well as up. i think america as a whole should be forced to watch this film- it’s unparralled.
Rating: 5 / 5
I am a licensed Social Worker who has worked with addictions for 30 years. This information was not exactly new. However, there are many recovery programs & staff who would benefit from adding this information to their treatment programs. The main mesage to me was that in order to successfully treat the “cravings” we need to address the brains chemistry. Although it is not appealing to treat ones drug adiction with another drug ( take methadone for example) the research does merit attention. If there is a medication to help with the cravings then to me it is worth looking into.
So many people look down on people with addictions and think they have no willpower. True many have stayed sober thru 12 step programs but many more need something else they are not already being offerred. People say the addict “failed” the program where I see the program “failed” the addict. One key in this documentary is to get addicts into treatment ASAP vs waiting for them to “hit bottom”. I think the brain chemistry information can be a useful component to adapt into treatment. Then if it works we can save thousands of lives.
I don’t see this as a one size fits all but as an addition to prevention programs along with counseling and 12 step meetings.
Rating: 4 / 5
Strengths:
* – This video does a terrific explaining addiction as a brain disease, the best I’ve ever seen.
* – They did a great job choosing the experts to interview, they are the most respected researchers in the field today.
* – A segment on parity and the efforts of a steamfitters union to self-insure do a great job illustrating how difficult it is to get decent treatment.
Weaknesses:
* – There is no presentation of recovery. I assume this series is intended to reduce stigma. Without presenting recovery, I fear it will increase stigma.
* – It oversells pharmacological treatments. A lay person I say the centerpiece video with said, “so all you need to do is get one of those prescriptions?” They give the impression that the medications are a complete treatment rather than a potentially helpful tool.
Rating: 3 / 5