A new documentary has been added to Netflix’s lineup and it’s worth a watch. Heroin(e), directed by Elain McMillion Sheldon, follows three brave and compassionate women as they battle addiction in the City of Huntington, West Virginia – the overdose capital of the country. In 2015, the city’s overdose rate was ten times the national average.
The film shines a light on the nation’s opioid epidemic in a very personal way. The women – a fire chief, a missionary and a drug court judge – are compassionate, funny and smart and they form strong bonds with local people struggling with addiction. This allows for real and well-rounded depictions of the struggles and triumphs associated with substance use disorders, not often shown on TV.
There is education and a healthy debate around the overdose reversing drug naloxone, honesty and understanding around relapse, and a humanizing portrayal of people struggling to overcome addiction and stay sober.
Heading into Netflix season, we suggest everybody touched by addiction adds this to their queue and shares it with a friend –especially since Massachusetts is also well over the national average for overdose deaths.
If you or someone you love is struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, call Spectrum Health Systems today and an admissions counselor will find the right course of treatment for you. We can be reached 24/7 at (800) 366-7732.
