34 Films About Drugs, Addiction, and Recovery

A deeply flawed police officer, battling drug addiction and borderline personality disorder, uses manipulation and hallucinations to try to advance his career. He is also prejudiced and consumed by bigotry.

A young woman from a rural community publicly accuses the popular college student of sexual assault.

This film examines the impact of U.S. Policies on Mexico, depicting the challenges posed by migrant caravans, drug traffickers, and systemic corruption that have significantly shaped the country.

This is the unbelievable true story of an unlikely alliance. In the early 1990s, a Russian mobster, a wealthy Miami socialite, and a Cuban intelligence officer joined forces to sell a Soviet submarine to the notorious Cali Cartel.

In today's demanding society, substances like Adderall promise those striving for peak performance – students, athletes, programmers, and more – the ability to achieve more, quicker, and with greater effectiveness. But the true price of that enhanced ability remains hidden.

This comedic documentary features celebrities sharing their most surreal experiences with psychedelics, brought to life through animation, reenactments, and other creative methods.

This is the story of Richard Wershe Jr., a teenager who worked as an undercover informant for the police in the 1980s. He was later arrested for drug trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.

This is the true story of Max S., detailing his rise to power in the world of online drug distribution, the events that inspired the television series "How to Sell Drugs Online."

One night, a woman drives across Los Angeles with her heroin-addicted brother and his two-year-old daughter, looking for a detox center.

This comedy centers on two high school seniors: one is a driven student wrestling with his valedictorian speech, and the other is a senior completing his fifteenth year of schooling.

Growing up in the 1950s, George Jung witnesses his family's financial struggles as his mother criticizes her husband's attempts to provide. Eventually, they face bankruptcy, fueling George's determination to avoid the same fate. In the 1960s, his friend Tuna proposes…

Snoop Dogg, now known as Snoop Lion, draws heavily on his time in Jamaica for his new reggae album, *Reincarnated*. VICE documents Snoop's journey to the island as he records the album with collaborators Diplo, Ariel Reichtshaid, and Dre Skull…

During the 1980s, powerful Colombian drug lords brought a new level of violence to Miami, reminiscent of Chicago during Prohibition, and transformed the city. "Cocaine Cowboys" recounts the true story of Miami's rise to become the nation's center for drug…

Fab 5 Freddy's first film examines America's complicated relationship with marijuana, focusing on its history intertwined with racial issues. The documentary combines interviews with well-known people and experts to show how marijuana has greatly influenced music and popular culture. It…

A psychologist consumed by her work tries to reshape her own thoughts, but as her behavior shifts in unexpected ways, she worries her self-experiment is spiraling out of her control.

The film features six actors, each embodying a different version of music icon Bob Dylan throughout his life. Through scenes spanning his career, the movie chronicles Dylan's journey from an unknown folk singer to a global phenomenon, highlighting his consistent…

Haunted by his past, a man flees to Mexico and finds himself drawn into a world of teenage rebels battling drug cartels. He earns the trust of the young fighters, but begins to doubt the true reasons behind their struggle.

A young, idealistic FBI agent joins a government task force working to combat the growing drug conflict along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Fourteen-year-old Sofia is deeply in love with Ulises, but their connection leads her into a prostitution ring in Mexico. To help her escape, Ulises must find someone to take her place. Based on the novel by Jorge Volpi, the story…

When David Sheff's marriage ends, he faces a difficult journey supporting his teenage son. The son's struggles escalate as he moves from occasional drug use to a severe methamphetamine addiction.

Following her daughter's death at the hands of her boyfriend, Marisela Escobedo launched a campaign for justice. Her fight extended not only to the man who killed her daughter, but also to expose the corruption within the Mexican legal system.

Rodney, an optimistic American, sees the best in everything. However, when the recession devastates his Central Florida construction business, his family is overwhelmed by debt. While camping, Rodney overhears an old hippie tell a story about an island, a map,…

During a time of economic hardship in the 1980s, an inexpensive and potent drug appears, sparking widespread moral outrage and racial prejudice. This film examines the complicated story of crack cocaine's rise to prominence.

This documentary profiles three women in West Virginia – a fire chief, a judge, and a street missionary – who are working to combat the state's severe opioid crisis.

A young American drug dealer and addict named Oscar lives in Tokyo with his prostitute sister, Linda. The film follows Oscar's spirit as it journeys through life after death. He relives memories of his parents before they died, witnesses his…

A poet falls for an art student drawn to his unconventional life and his heroin use. They become deeply connected, both to each other and to the drug. Their relationship is marked by cycles of being high, self-destructive behavior, and…

A teenager escaping a difficult home life finds himself falling for a carefree runaway. This new relationship pulls him into a dangerous world of drugs and addiction, putting his future at serious risk.

Four college students decide to rob a restaurant to pay for their spring break trip to Florida. Their actions lead them to become involved with an eccentric man who has his own criminal plans.

Filmmaker Kip Andersen explores a method for preventing and reversing chronic illnesses, and examines why major health organizations appear to suppress this information.

Two sisters, burdened by their mother's alcoholism and history of abusive relationships, conspire to kill her.

After serving time, a former American G.I. Finds himself drawn into the world of a powerful yakuza family in post-war Osaka. He joins their ranks, navigating a dangerous new life.

This film explores the emotional journeys of families who use marijuana to help their children battling cancer, documenting stories of both hope and hardship, and showcasing instances of remarkable improvement.

Following a devastating fire at a Romanian nightclub, burn victims start dying in hospitals from injuries that weren't initially fatal. Investigative journalists launch an inquiry, uncovering widespread corruption within the healthcare system and government institutions. *Collective* follows the journalists, whistleblowers,…

Since his father, a firefighter, died when he was seven, Scott has struggled to grow up. Now in his mid-20s, his dream of becoming a tattoo artist feels impossible. As his ambitious sister leaves for college, Scott lives with his…