Recovery

Addiction, Documentaries

Crystal Meth: A Global Pandemic (Addicted: The Synthetic Curse)

Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Crime, Drug Trafficking, Law Enforcement, Methamphetamine, Myanmar, Pakistan, Prevention & Treatment, Public Health, Recovery, Stimulant Use Disorder, Stimulants, Thailand

CNA traverses the front lines of various countries to investigate the world of illicit substances in Addicted. This three-part documentary series offers a rare, unfiltered look at the global production, trafficking and consumption of traditional and synthetic drugs. In this first episode, Curse Of Crystal Meth: Addiction, Trafficking & Dangerous Production Exposed, they explore the far-reaching impact of this synthetic curse. From Pakistan, to Thailand, to Canada, to Australia: methamphetamine, or ice, is ruining communities.

Addiction, Podcasts

Gamblers Anonymous: From Gambling Addiction to Recovery

Behavioural Addictions, Gamblers Anonymous, Gambling Disorder, Personal Stories, Recovery, Relapse, Twelve-Step Programs

Brian Hatch threw away his dreams of being a comedian to spend his nights in casinos. After a 14 year battle with gambling and relapses, he decided to try another way- TALKING about his FEELINGS. In January of 2015 he started ALL IN The Addicted Gambler’s Podcast. Since that time the podcast has grown to over 350 episodes with interviews from the lived experience community, affected others, clinicians, academics, advocates, public health workers, and industry representatives. He speaks from the heart about his own recovery and hopes it helps.

News / TV Specials, Addiction

Elizabeth Vargas – A Story of Anxiety, Addiction & Hope

Alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Anxiety Disorders, Celebrities, Dual Diagnosis, Parental Addiction, Personal Stories, Recovery, Relapse, USA

Elizabeth Vargas is an American television journalist best known as the co-anchor of World News Tonight and 20/20 on for ABC. She was at the top of her field for decades, known for her strong reporting around the world. Despite having support, resources, and what most would call a privileged life, Elizabeth Vargas says she just could not stop drinking. After struggling with and hiding an alcohol use disorder, she opens up in an interview with Diane Sawyer, discussing what alcoholism did to her life.

News / TV Specials, Addiction, Mental Health, News / TV Special

Growing Up Munsch: Robert Munsch’s Books, Drugs and Recovery

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Bipolar Disorder, Canada, Celebrities, Cocaine, Personal Stories, Recovery, Relapse, Twelve-Step Programs

Robert Munsch is a Canadian bestselling children's author who published nearly 50 books, including the well-known story The Paper Bag Princess and Love You Forever. He's a well-known name in Canadian households, selling more than 40 million copies of his books. In this 2010 interview with Global News, Robert Munsch opens up about his struggles with addiction and mental health, discussing how his problems began in childhood, his past studying as a priest, his marriage and children, as well as how several life experiences led him to develop a problem with alcohol and cocaine. He also speaks about the personal background behind several of his books.

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

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.

Addiction, Short-Form Content

True Stories of Addiction: Alcohol Was My Gateway to Illegal Drugs

Personal Stories, Recovery, Relapse

Brady grew up in a disconnected family with parents who secretly struggled with drug addiction. After getting his girlfriend pregnant, he married and began working at a liquor store, where he developed a heavy drinking habit. At 26, he tried cocaine and quickly became addicted, using it to stay awake and alcohol to sleep. Later, while working at a phone bank, he began using pain pills after a back injury. The pills made him feel good, and he soon relied on a mix of drugs and alcohol to function. Though he tried to cut back due to the financial cost, he wasn't concerned about health or legal risks—only the financial expenses.

Addiction, Documentaries

Addiction: The Science Behind (NOVA PBS)

Buprenorphine, Medication-Assisted Treatment, Nalaxone, Opioid Crisis, Opioid Use Disorder, Personal Stories, Prevention & Treatment, Recovery, Science & Research, Suboxone

This incredibly informative documentary from NOVA PBS discusses opioid addiction, highlighting that addiction is not a moral failing, but rather, a treatable chronic medical condition. It provides a general overview of the science behind addiction, detailing how dopamine, the reward pathway, and other brain regions change as a result of substance abuse, and how these changes result in drug-seeking behaviours and withdrawal. While there are several personal stories from those affected by addiction, the primary focus of this documentary is to provide education on the science behind addiction and the importance of evidence-based treatments.