Guest Blogger: Lee Weber

By Lee Weber, Editor of Addiction Blog

OK.  There’s a new movie that you MUST SEE if you’re in recovery.  It will challenge your idea of what is means to reach the still suffering addict or alcoholic.  And will challenge you personally about your inner shame about addiction.  Why is it so compelling?  First, maybe you can relate to how I feel about addiction…

In the day-to-day drudge of sifting through information about addiction, I rarely get excited about the topic itself.  In fact, addiction can be quite depressing.  Even though I'm a woman in long-term recovery and haven't had a drink in over a decade...the topic of addiction feels heavy. So many people lost.  So many sponsees don’t make.  And on an on about addiction.  Do you understand what I’m talking about?But …then I saw The Anonymous People.I'm charged up!  In fact, I believe that this film is a game changer.  Even more, I would urge anyone in recovery to see it.  While the film may be more targeted to the 23 million people in long-term recovery, we can all benefit from it.  Family, friends, and supporters.

So what’s The Anonymous People about?At its core, The Anonymous People documents the Addiction Recovery Movement and the political history of how Americans view and treat addiction since the 1940’s.  And then, it calls us to action.And this is where it gets interesting.  The films urges us to view addiction advocacy as a part ofresponsible citizenship.  And that advocating for better addiction treatment, access to it, and the decriminalization of drug use can become a part of our own recovery.Then, the film addresses 12 step group principles of anonymity and reframes these principles in ways that make advocacy a natural fit.  At is most basic, we can speak in public as people in long-term recovery to change public perceptions, laws, and governance of addiction treatment… as long as we don’t mention the name of our 12 step group or program.

The film is currently being screening by request…but may make it to cinemas across the country if there is enough interest.  Crowd source and request a screening by going to the GATHR request page for The Anonymous People.  And then, let’s make history together!-----P.S. Just as a caution: the film’s call to action might overwhelm people just starting down the road tohappy destiny who should be focusing on their own recovery.Lee Weber is a writer, mother, and arts & crafts fanatic who writes about alcohol and drug addictiontreatment and evidence-based practices in the field of addiction.  Her current battle is with caffeineaddiction and a tendency to watch too much Magnum P.I.