What happens inside the brain when occasional drug use becomes addiction? Experts use neuroscience, brain imaging, and personal stories to explain how opioids affect dopamine, cravings, withdrawal, decision-making, and the brain’s reward system. The film also explores the roles of genetics, family history, and childhood trauma in addiction risk, while examining approaches to treatment and harm reduction, including methadone, buprenorphine, naloxone, and supervised consumption sites. Alongside the science are stories of recovery that show why addiction is increasingly understood as a treatable medical condition rather than a moral failing.
Real stories of heroin addiction, overdose, grief, and recovery reveal the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on individuals and families. Parents who have lost children share their experiences alongside people in recovery and professionals working in addiction treatment. Their stories explore the powerful effects of prescription opioids, the progression from painkillers to heroin, and the realities of treatment and long-term recovery. At the center is a mother who turned the loss of her son into an effort to raise awareness and help prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy.
This documentary explores the fentanyl crisis in Alberta, Canada, through the experiences of people living with addiction, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and families affected by the opioid epidemic. At its centre is one young man whose repeated attempts to access treatment reveal the barriers many people face when they are ready to seek help. Alongside his story, the film examines the growing impact of illicit fentanyl, the devastating consequences of the overdose crisis, and the ongoing efforts to support recovery across one of Canada's hardest-hit regions.
This documentary examines the addiction and homelessness crisis in Seattle, where rising rates of substance use, visible homelessness, crime, and public disorder have fueled growing concern throughout the community. Through interviews with people living with addiction, business owners, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and local residents, it explores competing perspectives on what has driven the crisis and how it should be addressed. The film also examines treatment options, public policy, and the challenges of balancing compassion, accountability, and public safety.
