Smashed: Breaking the Cycle of Alcohol Use Disorder with Dr. Jeff Harries

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 is understood and treated.

For 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.

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"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."

"When I went through medical school, I was taught that alcohol use disorder was caused by people's moral failing, weak character, bad judgment, bad choices. We know from the science that's simply untrue. This is a thing that changes how your brain is wired and operates, that's not a moral failing. And it's repairable, which is the good news."

"Jeff was one of the most kind and patient 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 very big part of this is providing hope, not just to patients but to providers, to people who are prescribing these medications, to learn something that's different than what they learned at med school."