Documentaries

A collection of documentaries for various topics related to addiction.

In 2003, the Prime Minister of Thailand announced a war on drugs, which led to the murder of thousands of drug addicts. The government put pressure on local police to reach a 'quota', where names on blacklists were targets. The government and police claimed that it was the drug dealers killing local addicts, but others were skeptical, believing that it was, in fact, the authorities conducting a massive sweep of a local drug called Yaba (a type of methamphetamine) by killing drug addicts.

Addiction, Documentaries

Cocaine for Germany: Drug Dealing & Smuggling

Cocaine, Crime, Drug Trafficking, Germany, Law Enforcement

The film traces the path of cocaine from its cultivation in South America, through smuggling routes that pass via Africa and Spain, to its distribution among dealers and users in Berlin. It examines how the drug trade operates, the actions being taken by authorities in response to its rapid growth, and the individuals and networks profiting from it.

Addiction, Documentaries

The Netherlands – Mocro Mafia & Drug Trafficking

Cocaine, Crime, Drug Trafficking, Law Enforcement, Netherlands

Organized crime in the Netherlands has surged alongside the booming cocaine trade, with the so-called "Mocro Mafia" at the center of this crisis. Once believed to be under control, this network has demonstrated its power through increasingly violent tactics, including the assassinations of a key witness, his lawyer, and journalist Peter R. de Vries. The drug mafia’s grip extends deep into society, enabled by billions in profits and the ability to bribe port workers and other insiders.

Addiction, Documentaries

Thailand’s Cannabis Revolution

Cannabis, Decriminalization, Public Health, Science & Research, Thailand

Thailand, once known for its tough war on drugs and strict laws, is making a dramatic shift. After years of leading Asia in incarceration rates and being linked to the drug trade from the infamous Golden Triangle, the country is now taking a bold step: legalizing medical marijuana. Supporters believe this move could transform lives—helping farmers earn more, boosting the economy, and even offering treatment for serious illnesses like cancer. It's a major change that's drawing global attention. As the new law rolls out, 101 East explores whether these big promises are real solutions or just political talk.

Addiction, Documentaries

Scopolamine – The World’s Scariest Drug

Colombia, Crime, Deliriants, Hallucinogens, Personal Stories, Scopolamine (Burundanga)

VICE travels to Bogota, Colombia to find out more about a very strange and powerful drug called Burundanga, also referred to as "The Devil's Breath." They speak with a few people that have firsthand experience with the drug and, according to VICE, "the story took a far darker turn" than they imagined.

Addiction, Documentaries

Through a Blue Lens: Vancouver Police & Their Relationship With Addicts

Canada, Cocaine, Frontline Workers, Heroin, Law Enforcement, Overdose, Personal Stories, Public Health, Recovery, Youth

This 1999 documentary presented by The National Film Board of Canada follows a group of police officers who work in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and their unique relationship with the drug addicts living on the streets. The officers themselves document the lives of several addicts who have agreed to participate in this initiative to show the realities of drug use to youth.

Addiction, Documentaries

‘It’s Not Alcoholism Until After College’ – The Alarming Reality of Binge Drinking

Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Drinking Culture, Personal Stories, Recovery, USA, Youth

This documentary primarily follows a young woman named Rachel, who struggles with the concept of alcoholism, believing that, although she engages in binge drinking, she is not an alcoholic. According to her, "They always say, it's not alcoholism until after College. College is like the excuse to binge drink." There are a few other people who share their stories as well, but they are already past the point of recognizing their problems and have sought help.

Addiction, Documentaries

7 Days: The Opioid Crisis in Arkansas

Fentanyl, Frontline Workers, Heroin, Lost Loved Ones, Nalaxone, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Pharmaceuticals, Recovery, USA, Youth

Listen to the stories of people who have struggled with addiction, and discover the ongoing efforts across the state of Arkansas to address the challenges of opioid misuse and addiction. Their stories are raw, real, and deeply human—marked by loss,…

Addiction, Documentaries

Poison Pill: San Diego’s Battle Against Fentanyl

Buprenorphine, Drug Trafficking, Fentanyl, Frontline Workers, Law Enforcement, Lost Loved Ones, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Nalaxone, Naltrexone, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, USA

NBC 7 undertook an in-depth investigation to move beyond the headlines and statistics, aiming to uncover how the fentanyl crisis emerged in San Diego County, the impact it continues to have on local communities, and the critical work still needed to address what has been labeled an epidemic.

Addiction, Documentaries

Injecting Hope: Tackling Drug Overdose With Harm Reduction

Canada, Frontline Workers, Harm Reduction, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Methadone, Nalaxone, Non-Profits, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Public Health, Recovery, Stigma, Sublocade

Injecting Hope offers an unflinching, ground-level examination of the drug overdose crisis in North America and explores the potential role of harm reduction initiatives, such as safe injection sites, in addressing the epidemic. ABC7 News reporter Tara Campbell takes viewers to the streets of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for an intimate look at the effects of North America’s first sanctioned safe consumption site, established more than two decades ago, on both individuals struggling with addiction and the broader community.