Smashed: Breaking the Cycle of Alcohol Use Disorder with Dr. Jeff Harries
Table of Contents
Introduction
Smashed: Breaking the Cycle of Alcohol Use Disorder is a short documentary produced by Mutant Films as part of the TELUS Storyhive project. It tells the story of Dr. Jeff Harries, a physician who spent much of his career working to change how Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is understood and treated.
Over more than 20 years, Dr. Jeff Harries challenged the idea that addiction is a moral failing, instead advocating for it to be recognized as a medical condition that deserves proper care and compassion. His approach focused on meeting people where they are and offering treatment options that support long-term recovery. Through his work, many individuals were able to find a path forward.
Before his passing from ALS in 2021, Dr. Jeff Harries left a lasting impact on both patients and the medical community. His work continues through the Canadian Alcohol Use Disorder Society, which carries forward his message of understanding and evidence-based care. Smashed not only shares his story, but also highlights the importance of shifting how we view and treat addiction.
Also Watch: Alcohol Use Disorder – A New Approach
A 23-minute video with Dr. Jeff Harries and other experts who discuss life-changing medications for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder.
Learn more about Dr. Jeff Harries:
Quotes
“Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic disease that affects the brain, not a moral failing. For too long we’ve been trying to get patients to quit or reduce consumption by shaming or berating them. I’m filled with hope that we can view this disorder with compassion.”
“The idea is that you can take a medication over a period of time, and that may actually be not for a long time, but it reduces the cravings, allows your brain to heal, and then you can move forward from there.”
“Jeff was one of the most kind and patients doctors I had ever spoken with. Before then I truly thought I was going to have to die with this disease and I was so embarrassed about it that I had some pretty bad thoughts. I had been shut down by other physicians saying, you know, ‘willpower and just stop drinking, get it out of the house’. But Jeff Harris gave me that first boost up on the whole, ‘I could do this myself’.”
“A lot of what I’ve learned in the last 3 years and taught giving these talks is that hope is such an important part of recovering for them – to have hope and for people around them to have hope.”
DR. JEFF HARRIES
“People do things they just would not do if they weren’t under the influence of alcohol. We certainly are the frontline people – we see these people when they’re at their lowest, we see these people when alcohol has ravaged and caused so much destruction in their lives.”
“The Canadian Alcohol Use Disorder Society was formed about 5 months ago and it was really Jeff’s idea that we should put in place an organization that can help promote this understanding, provide hope and compassion for people in a different way that’s been happening in the past, and expand that understanding so that there isn’t this failure demand.”
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Brenda H.
BA Psych, Grad. Cert. Addictions & Mental Health
Driven by a deep personal connection to these topics, I created AMH Resources to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and everyday support. I watch, read, and summarize a wide range of free resources to help you navigate the overwhelming amount of information available and find what resonates with your journey.
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