If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, or if you would just like to know more about the cause, please follow these links...”
RESOURCES
Watch It | Follow the Links | Read About It
Watch It
MOVIES:
Unguarded 2011 ESPN directed by Jonathan Hock
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOAYerHsmrY
Watch the true effects of an addiction through the life of former Boston Celtics player, Chris Herren. Listen as Chris explains his addiction and how it ended his professional basketball career. While Chris hit a rough period in his basketball career, he was able to turn his life around and recover; Chris is now a motivational speaker to help other people get on the right path.
A Star is Born 2020 starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
Trailer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nSbzyEJ8X9E
A Star is Born follows the love story of a famous musician and aspiring singer. While he seems to have it all, Jackson struggles with a tumultuous inner conflict and turns to drug and alcohol addiction at the height of his career. In this tear-jerker, the reality of addiction touches the lives of those who seem perfect externally.
DOCUMENTARIES:
The Anonymous People 2013 directed by Greg D. Williams
Trailer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bqoEtUn0Agw
The Anonymous People is a documentary that details the lives of the 23.5 million Americans living in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. In an attempt to stop the stigma around addiction and shift the conversation about problems to solutions, this passionate documentary tells the story of addiction through the voices of those most closely affected.
Heroin(e) 2017 directed by Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Trailer: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=khSO7qEKbvo
Heroin(e) is a documentary that follows the front line workers in Huntington, West Virginia; the epicenter of America’s opioid epidemic. It shows the struggles of those living with an addiction as well as a compassionate approach to help them.
Follow the Links
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-substance-addiction-services
The Bureau of Substance Addiction Services in MA oversees the statewide system of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services for individuals, families, and communities affected by gambling and substance addiction. Follow this link to a variety of action and informational resources.
National Institute of Health
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
Get the facts. Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will.
Northshore Recovery High School
https://www.nsedu.org/schools/northshore-recovery-high-school/
Northshore Recovery High School, is part of the Northshore Education Consortium and uniquely designed to meet the needs of students who have struggled with substance abuse disorders. Students can be referred by school districts, families, treatment providers, youth-serving state agencies and juvenile justice.
Alateen
https://alanonma.org/about-alateen/is-alateen-for-you/
Click on the link to consider 20 questions to help you decide whether or not Alateen is for you. Alateen is for young people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. Has your life been affected by someone else’s addiction issues? Sometimes the active drinking has stopped, or the active drinker may not live with us anymore. Even though the alcohol may be gone, and the alcoholic gone or recovering in AA, we are still affected. Many of us have received help from Alateen or Al-Anon.
Local Referrals for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
https://www.nschi.org/patient-info/community-resources/
NSCH has three full-time Family Clinics: Salem, Peabody, and Gloucester Family Health. NSCH has the following school-based sites: Teen Health Center at Salem High School, the Student Health Center at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, and five behavioral health-only sites at elementary and middle schools in Salem.
Read About It
NOVELS:
Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Zach should be finishing up high school, but instead he's in rehab. Zach knows he's an alcoholic, but he doesn't remember what happened to land him in the rehab facility. Will Zach face his past and find recovery, or will his fear of remembering the truth keep him stuck in place?
Clean by Amy Lynn Reed
Clean follows Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva - a group of teens with addiction problems living in a rehab facility.
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
Sutter has never questioned his drinking or his choices. Then he starts to get to know Aimee, a straight laced nerd. Will Sutton end up turning Aimee into a party girl, or will she help him to get sober?
NON-FICTION
Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. An autobiographical nonfiction tale in graphic novel format.
Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff
Before Nic became addicted to crystal meth, he was a charming boy, joyous and funny, a varsity athlete and honor student adored by his two younger siblings. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who lied, stole, and lived on the streets. David Sheff traces the first warning signs.
REFERENCES
Massachusetts State Health Assessment. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2017. Addiction Chapter 6,www.mass.gov/doc/chapter-6-addiction/download. Accessed 23 Mar. 2021.
"Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Adolescents: Summary." National
Institute on Drug Abuse: Advancing Addiction Science, National Institute of Health, 20 Jan. 2014, www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/treatment/
principles-drug-abuse-treatment-adolescents-summary. Accessed 23 Mar. 2021.
"Supporting a #StateWithoutStigMA." Mass.gov, Commonwealth of Massachusetts,2021, www.mass.gov/info-details/
supporting-a-statewithoutstigma#the-stigma-of-addiction. Accessed 23 Mar.2021.