Addicted in Film

Can watching movies about addiction and recovery help people kick the habit? That’s what Hollywood veteran Ted Perkins set out to discover as he battled against his own stubborn drinking problem. Barricaded in his bedroom with nothing more than an iTunes movie account, microwave popcorn, and Diet Coke, he watched 100 movies in 100 days. And it worked. Thanks to the magic and power of story he was able to see his addiction in a radical new light and follow a non-traditional yet highly effective path towards successful recovery.

In this insightful and entertaining book, Perkins discusses how his top 25 best (and worst) films about addiction and recovery not only helped save his life, but also shares what vital lessons they may teach others in recovery, their loved ones, or the wider addiction recovery community in general.

Exhaustively researched and vetted by top addiction researchers and professionals, Perkins chronicles 80 years of Hollywood’s daring efforts to bring the serious subject of addiction to a worldwide audience in authentic, entertaining, and occasionally hilarious ways.

Whether it’s movies about alcohol, heroin, gambling, or chocolate, each chapter is also a behind-the-scenes look at the struggles the filmmakers faced to get the films produced, the ingenious ways they were marketed, the huge risks many actors faced when taking on the roles, and how some of those gambles paid off with multiple Academy Awards.

Regardless of whether you’re in recovery, work to help others in their recovery, or just love great movies, Addicted in Film manages to take the sometimes difficult conversation about addiction and recovery and render it accessible, informative, engaging, and at times laugh-out-loud funny.

“This book is a must-have if you or anyone you know has been touched by addictive problems. It’s filled with enlightening stories about powerful films that could become a turning point for people.” (Dr. Tom Horvath, Co-founder, Smart Recovery)