ncarolinarn This class of drugs are right behind Antibiotics as helping mankind survive. Primitive cultures have used opiates for thousands of years. Coca-Cola, opium dens, coca plants chew the leaves, etc. for not hundreds but 1000's of years. In my opinion I believe this is the next crusade and diversion political flag saying we care about you. You can't legislate morality or intelligence. People are creatures of doing the opposite (herd effect). Again IMO some judges kid or Congress persons' kid dies now it's rah rah rah let's get those bad bad drugs and protect the stupid creatures. No you won't share Jesus with them that might offend someone. We'll paint a broad brush and get everyone even though the few idiots make the majority suffer. Make sense?? Let the be to their own devices and accountable for their choices. How the heck can you stop a fool? They'll kill themselves trying. Mean time guilt and stigma to control the herd mindset. Try surgery without opiates folks. What about alcohol??? Oh heck no we tax it. Think people. You're being manipulated and swayed this way and that.

ethanrutt Something often overlooked now given a real run through. I loved the movie's message but the actual movie blew me away! 10/10 on all fronts! The cinematography is incredible. It is such an important issue that is not given a lot of attention in this political America we live in. Everyone needs to watch this movie. truly changes your views on what heroin has become.

charmarche As one who recently had spinal surgery and was offered pain killer (30 day supply!) upon discharge from the hospital and given no warnings about possible consequences, I was shocked to learn in the film how legally and professionally dispensed medicine can become addictive in a matter of just a few weeks, sometimes in a matter of days. The film should be seen by everyone or otherwise more people will stumble into the unknown darkness of addiction which has devastating consequences for the individual involved, of course, but also for the immediate family as well. This is a spiral of disaster and it is amazing that it can all happen so quickly.

Kevin Maness This HBO documentary is an OK introduction to opioid addiction as it exists in 2017. It's only an hour long and features a handful of families sharing their stories of addiction. In each case, the opioid addiction started with individuals being prescribed opioids for pain relief, but without needed education, support, and oversight. Individuals were prescribed high doses of multiple medications for too long, and they became addicted and then progressed to heroin when the prescriptions are cut off by the doctor and the (now) addicted person learned that heroin is cheaper than buying pills on the street. I hear this story all the time in my work with people with substance use disorders. It's like a bad dream that recurs over and over again. But it's real, and I'm only seeing a drop in a larger ocean of pain.I do wish HBO had gone ahead and made a 2-hour film (at least) with more in-depth information, including how the drug works in the brain/body of the addicted person, why one person becomes addicted and another doesn't, what kinds of treatment are most effective in supporting long-term recovery, the ways for families and other loved ones to support people in addiction and recovery, and the kinds of policies and programs needed to reduce the incidence of addiction and to help those who are addicted, etc. (I know HBO touched more on these matters in their 2007 Addiction movie, but that was 10 years ago.) It seems unfortunate to me that the movie introduced the problem with so little to say about what can be done to address it. Especially at a time when the current Republican government seems hell-bent on cutting insurance coverage for addiction treatment!In a nutshell, this isn't a bad place to start if you've heard about the so-called opioid epidemic but don't know anyone affected and feel that the problem is someone else's and could never happen to you or your loved ones. But, it leaves a ton of questions unasked and mostly unanswered.