The Addiction Project - HBO documentary series / multimedia project

[El Diablo]

http://www.hbo.com/addiction/

Just watched the 90-minute nine-segment "centerpiece" documentary. Some interesting stories of addiction including personal stories, doctors/scientists discussing the latest treatment options and science of addiction. Lots of very interesting stuff, especially the discussions about the brain and addiction.

One of the most powerful was the segment with people talking about how managed care (insurance) is preventing a lot of people from getting the type of inpatient treatment they really need to get better.

In addition to the documentary, there are 13 short follow-up shows that examine specific areas touched on in the main show in greater detail and interviews with some of the experts.

There are also four separate documentaries (Montana Meth, TV Junkie, Cracked Not Broken, and A Revolving Door) about different stories of addiction showing in conjunction with the series.

The website has a full schedule of when all these shows are airing, plus additional information, online videos, and other resources.

For anyone affected by or interested in learning more about addiction, this is a very interesting and valuable project.

['Chair]

v. sad stuff

just finished "Cracked Not Broken" and watched (albeit passively) the one on kids and addiction yesterday.

All are avail OnDemand.



I found the following tid-bits interesting (referring to the one on kids and addiction)
a) 18-25 is the danger zone (I feel that that range might be a little on the high side...no pun intended).

b) v. good discussion on brain development (or lack of) in terms of "fully" weighing decisions and consequences and how this relates to problems w/ drug abuse in younger ppl.

c) psychic disorders and their positive correlation with drug abuse (kinda duh), but it discusses the need for both to be treated for effectiveness.



"Cracked Not Broken" was fairly dry with a big whiff of "same old drug user documentary".





funny comment while watching the "kids and addiction movie"

"I use drugs and my face doesn't look like [censored]" - anonymous

[J.Brown]

interested to see the montana meth segment.

not sure if the nationwide problem is worse here in big sky country or not, but you should see the ad campaign that they have here.

OMFG!

it is a series of tv, radio, and billboard commercials that are super graphic/violent/disturbing in their images and themes. used to "scare" young kids into never trying meth.
Not Even Once is the main catch phrase. showing things like a bf taking money from a guy then walking into a seedy motel room to his crying gf who obviously just whored herself for their drug problem. both are dirty and covered with sores, etc. etc. very very over the top.

is this a nationwide trend in ant i drug ads? do you feel there is a major meth issue in cali or elswhere other than the more rural states?

interesting to see the tie in and how effective this will be, hopefully very in stopping people from experimenting.

later. J.

[MusashiStyle]

I suggest u watch Montana Meth. It really ain't no joke that stuff.

[calmasahinducow]

Here's a link to the Montana Meth ad campaign that J. Brown mentioned.

http://www.montanameth.org/View_Ads/index.php#

A vast improvement in terms of anti-drug TV advertising.

[J.Brown]

musha,

couldn't agree more, crazy crazy stuff. no joke at all.

calm,

thanks, good link, i suggest everyone should watch a few of those vids. we really have been saturated with them in MT and i think they have been effective for the people i know who aren't in the danger zone so much, hope it has the same effect on teens and college students.

ty ty. J.

[george w]

meth is a huge problem all over hte country

[snagglepuss]

i just checked out all of the commercials and print ads on the montanameth website. some of them were better than others, but i think they are a little too over the top to be as effective as possible.

[NLSoldier]

[ QUOTE ]

All are avail OnDemand.

[/ QUOTE ]

?? Where did you find this? I looked at HBO on demand and all i could find was a 1 min clip about the series.

[J.Brown]

snaggle,

i agree with the over the top part and they are everywhere.
seriously, omnipresent.

that being said i think they have taken the "straight" kids and kept them out of harms way a bit. maybe in a similar fashion that most people my age (33) were scared and are still scared to death of needles and heroin. that is the only correlation i could make.

cool you checked them out. i think they may be getting used soon in other parts of the country. AZ i heard. anyone else seen them?

later. J.