Living with an Addict is a new observational documentary showing the damage that addiction can leave in its wake and the means by which family members try to cope and intervene.
Following on from the acclaimed documentaries Born Addictedand Rural Addiction, Midas Productions continues its exploration of addiction by observing the crippling effect that the issue can have on other family members.
Families who discover that a loved one has an alcohol, drugs or gambling problem are often unsure how to respond. Their initial reaction can be one of denial; they may become afraid of what neighbours will say and fear stigmatisation and social exclusion. They may question or confront their own failure as a parent or partner, or they may reproach ‘society’.
Although many families in Ireland will have to confront the issue at some time, in some shape or form, the truth is few are equipped to do so effectively. Those who are in active addiction are oblivious to the devastation they cause – like a tornado they leave a path of destruction, and it is the families who are left reeling.
Living with an Addict looks at a family of five, in Mayo, who have grown up with an alcoholic mother; Bray businessman, Dave Tew, dealing with the presence of a heroin addict in the family; and the impact that gambling addiction has had on Galway hurler Davy Glennon’s mother and brother. We also visit a respite centre in Tipperary that provides therapeutic care for Cora Buckley and other affected families.
"I remember getting a phone call from a neighbour, and her saying: ‘‘Is that gurrier gone out of the village?’" says Cora. "Then saying, ‘I hope he overdoses some night’. And so I say: ‘He’s my son and, in spite of the pain and hurt that has come on, I still love him, and I would love to have him well’."
Living with an Addict is an important and poignant addition to the discussion around addiction. It is a raw, affecting, and compelling documentary driven by personal testimonies; it is a programme that will open people’s eyes and, hopefully, their minds.
