The Films

The feature-length documentary film ADDICTION is the centerpiece of the Addiction project. Bringing together the nation's leading experts with award- winning filmmakers, it consists of nine separate segments, including: "Saturday Night in a Dallas ER," by Jon Alpert; "A Mother's Desperation," by Susan Froemke and Albert Maysles; "The Science of Relapse," by Eugene Jarecki and Susan Froemke; "The Adolescent Addict," by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner; "Brain Imaging," by Liz Garbus and Rory Kennedy; "Opiate Addiction: A New Medication," by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus; "Topiramate: A Clinical Trial for Alcoholism," by Alan and Susan Raymond; "Steamfitters Local Union 638," by Barbara Kopple; and "Insurance Woes," by Susan Froemke. ADDICTION is produced by John Hoffman and Susan Froemke; executive produced by Sheila Nevins.

		Saturday Night in a Dallas ER Directed by Jon Alpert At Parkland Memorial Hospital, there are over 30,000 injury-related visits to the emergency room every year - nearly half of which involve drugs or alcohol.				A Mother's Desperation Directed by Susan Froemke and Albert Maysles In Pittsburgh, a middle-age woman turns to police as a last resort to save her 23-year-old daughter Aubrey.

		The Science of Relapse Directed by Eugene Jarecki and Susan Froemke Researchers enlist addicts to participate in a study investigating the brain's response to drug cues.				The Adolescent Addict Directed by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner At 10, Dylan's biological father left his family. Now 15, Dylan has a drug problem.

		Brain Imaging Directed by Liz Garbus and Produced by Rory Kennedy The ability to look inside the brain through electronic imaging has yielded many advances in the study of addiction.				Opiate Addiction: A New Medication Directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker In the '60s, methadone was found to be successful in treating addiction to opiates like heroin. More recently, buprenorphine has taken the treatment one step further.

		Topiramate: A Clinical Trial for Alcoholism Directed by Alan Raymond and Produced by Susan Raymond An estimated 17 million Americans suffer from alcohol- use disorders, but only 13% are being treated with medication proven to be effective.				Steamfitters Local Union 638 Directed by Barbara Kopple For years, Don Perks had a reputation as one of the steamfitter union's hardest workers - and one of its biggest drinkers. After a series of close calls, Don finally turned his life around, and decided to help other union members with drinking problems.

		Insurance Woes Directed by Susan Froemke Among the most troubling issues facing addicts and their families today is that of insurance: many insurance policies for individuals and companies simply don't cover long-term treatment of drug addiction.

		What is Addiction? Directed by Liz Garbus In an informal therapy group, Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of NIDA, discusses addiction as a brain disease with addicts and family members.				Understanding Relapse Directed by Susan Froemke What leads to relapse? Why is drug addiction a chronic, relapsing disease? Experts explain that relapse is not the failure of treatment but part of the disorder.

		The Search For Treatment: A Challenging Journey Addiction can be difficult for both the addict and their family members. What can be even more difficult is finding the right treatment for an individual. What is treatment? How do you know how to choose the right program?				The Adolescent Addict Directed by Kate Davis and David Heilbroner The adolescent brain is not fully developed, making a young person extremely vulnerable to drug and alcohol addiction. Co-occurring disorders such as anxiety or depression are typically present with adolescent addicts.

		An Interview with Dr. Nora D. Volkow, M.D. Dr. Nora Volkow addresses a wide range of issues in this program such as: addiction as a brain disease; the stigma associated with addiction; the adolescent addict; relapse; and the effectiveness of combining behavioral therapies with medication.				An Interview with Mark L. Willenbring, M.D. Dr. Mark L. Willenbring discusses the different factors that can lead to alcoholism, including genetics and psychiatric disorders.

		An Interview with Michael L. Dennis, Ph.D. Dr. Michael L. Dennis is an expert on the treatment of adolescents with drug and alcohol problems. In this program, he discusses the vulnerability of an adolescent's brain and the prevalence of co- occurring disorders in teen addiction.				An Interview with Kathleen T. Brady, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Kathleen T. Brady discusses how underlying disorders like anxiety, depression or trauma can lead to addiction or relapse.

		Getting an Addict into Treatment: The CRAFT Approach Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is a gentle and effective method for helping families guide addicted loved ones into treatment.				Treating Stimulant Addiction: The CBT Approach No medical treatment currently exists for stimulant addiction, which include methamphetamine and cocaine. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered the most effective treatment for stimulant addiction.

		Opiate Addiction: Understanding Replacement Therapy Directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A Pennebaker Scott Farnum, Administrator, Acadia Hospital in Bangor, Maine, discusses the different types of opioids and their effects on the brain.				South Boston Drug Court Directed by Joe Berlinger Drug Courts are an alternative to incarcerating repeat, non-violent drug felons. In lieu of jail, addicts are mandated to receive comprehensive treatment, which often reduces relapses and re-arrests

		A Mother's Desperation Directed by Susan Froemke The story of one mother's attempt to rescue her daughter from her heroin addiction -a more complete telling of the story introduced in the centerpiece show, Addiction.

		TV Junkie Directed by Michael Cain and Matt Radecki A striking video diary of Rick Kirkham, a successful 48-year old television journalist who gets introduced to drugs and later becomes addicted to crack cocaine.				Cracked Not Broken Directed and Produced by Paul Perrier Opens a disturbing window on the life of Lisa, a 37-year-old crack-cocaine addict and estranged mother of one who prostitutes herself to fuel her costly drug habit.

		Montana Meth Directed by Eames Yates Paints a broad, harrowing picture of the meth problem in Montana, which ranks second in the nation for teenage and adult abuse of the drug.				A Revolving Door Directed by Marilyn Braverman and Produced by Chuck Braverman Chronicles 33-year-old Tommy Lennon's decade long struggle with the dual challenge of drug addiction and mental illness, conditions possibly triggered by a head injury he suffered while surfing at age 17.