Living on Methadone

A Documentary Illuminating Resilience in the Opioid Crisis

Runtime: Feature
Stage: production
Location: Texas, New York, Washington D.C.
Producer:
Click and Frame Production

Logline:

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

Plot Summary:

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.

The Crisis:

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.

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.
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.
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.

Experts & Characters

Philip Brunner

Substance Abuse Counselor
Will

Former Opioid User
Aaron

Former Methadone Patient
Dr. Robert L. DuPont

Leader in Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment / Former Drug Czar
Frances McGaffery

Addiction Researcher / Pew Research Center
Steve Nichols

Retired Buffalo Police Captain
Pamela

Methadone Patient