Living on Methadone
Stories of survival, stigma, and the search for healing.
Every 10 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from an opioid overdose—more than 54,000 people in 2024 alone. Every day, hundreds begin or continue medication-assisted treatment. Most remain invisible; their stories are rarely heard, often misunderstood, and shaped by policy and stigma. Living on Methadone is a feature documentary that centers patients, counselors, researchers, and families navigating recovery in real time—revealing the other side of addiction, where people fight to survive with courage and dignity.
Scenes From the Film
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Living on Methadone follows the raw, resilient journeys of three patients navigating opioid addiction through methadone treatment, blending their stories with expert insights to reveal the triumphs, challenges, and truths behind a life-saving yet stigmatized recovery process
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Living on Methadone is a feature-length documentary that explores the transformative yet complex role of methadone in opioid addiction recovery. Through the intimate stories of Aaron, Pamela, and Emma, set against diverse regulatory landscapes in Texas, New York, and Washington, D.C., the film captures the human cost of addiction and the hope of redemption. Interwoven with insights from addiction specialists, policymakers, and counselors, it examines the science, history, and politics of methadone treatment, challenging stigma and advocating for accessible care. With a raw yet compassionate tone, the documentary blends observational storytelling with avant-garde visuals to foster empathy and spark dialogue about the opioid crisis.
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The Film
Living on Methadone casts a compassionate spotlight on methadone treatment, a proven yet stigmatized lifeline for opioid addiction recovery. Unlike narratives of despair, our film celebrates the human spirit through intimate stories of resilience.Pamela, a mother piecing together a life shattered by addiction, finding strength in sobriety to reconnect with her family.
Aaron, a father transforming the anguish of losing his daughter to an opioid overdose into a steadfast journey toward sobriety.
Emma, a young woman fighting bureaucratic hurdles to reclaim her future.
Their journeys weave a tapestry of healing, echoing the triumphs of millions.
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Our Approach
Collaborating with addiction specialists, policy advocates, and counselors, we blend observational storytelling with evocative, cinematic visuals. This immersive film sparks empathy, challenges stigma, and ignites conversations about recovery and reform. -
As the opioid crisis devastates communities, survivors of non-fatal overdoses—estimated at 2.4–4 million annually—face trauma, health challenges, and barriers to treatment like methadone. Living on Methadone highlights solutions, offering hope where despair persists.
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Our Vision
This is not just a film—it’s a canvas of courage, a symphony of voices rising above silence. Join us to witness lives reclaimed and a path to healing illuminated. -
In 2023, the CDC reported over 220 Americans die daily from opioid overdoses—more than 80,000 lives lost annually (NCHS Data Brief No. 491, March 2024). For each death, countless survivors bear physical scars, emotional trauma, and societal stigma, yet fight for recovery. Behind these numbers are untold stories of struggle, survival, and hope.
About the Film
This project is built from lived experience — and we’re still listening. If you have a story, struggle, or insight to share, we’d be honored to hear it.
Characters & Experts
Aron | Main character
A Marine vet carrying more than addiction. He lost his daughter to an overdose — and now he's fighting to stay alive, for real this time.
Emma | Main character
A single mom stuck on a waiting list. She carries the weight of uncertainty — quietly asking for help in a system that makes her wait.
Pamela | Main character
She’s been on methadone for years, but still feels judged. A mother in recovery, trying to rebuild trust, one quiet day at a time.
Dr. Robert DuPont | Main character
A longtime voice in America’s war on drugs. As the first director of NIDA, he helped shape national policy on addiction — and still believes recovery means being drug-free. His legacy looms over every debate about methadone.
Frances McGaffery | Supporting Voices
Addiction researcher at Pew, offering data-driven insights into treatment gaps and the human stories behind the numbers.
Philip Brunner | Supporting Voices
A substance abuse counselor on the front lines — balancing policy, compassion, and the reality of relapse..
Will | Supporting Voices
A former opioid user reflecting on what it took to get clean — and how close he came to not making it.
Steve Nichols | Supporting voices
Retired Buffalo police captain reflecting on addiction, enforcement, and what he wishes he had known.
Producers & Partners
This film is still in the making — and we’re looking for a few thoughtful collaborators to help us shape its final form.If the story resonates with you, and you’d like to support, co-produce, or join us in bringing it to life, we’d love to talk.
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