10 Best Drug Addiction Documentaries on Netflix Right Now – Almost everyone knows someone, near or far, who has struggled with drug addiction at some point in their lives. It may be a distant relative or someone you went to school with, but the mere possibility shows that the situation is deteriorating with each passing year. Yes, there are many places that provide assistance/information on such topics, but there are also many stigmas associated with them, with people failing to recognize that no one wants to be an addict.
To be honest, it’s frequently just a minor miscalculation on their part that takes them down this dark path, which could’ve easily been prevented if they had appropriate information of not only the consequences of their actions, but also of what drugs truly are. So, here’s a list of some brutally honest narcotics-related documentaries available on Netflix. You’ll discover a wide range of films and series here, from those dealing with addiction to those delving into the infamous concept of the war on drugs.
10. Highland: Thailand’s Marijuana Awakening (2017)
Every country has a unique set of cultural, political, and economic circumstances. Some gestures that are deemed stylish or acceptable in your country may not be so welcome in another. A similar case can be made for marijuana. It may not be a major concern for the American economy, but it portrays a very different picture for Thailand. ‘Highland: Thailand’s Marijuana Awakening’ explores the events that led to the country’s legalization of marijuana and how it altered the country’s political and economic atmosphere. This documentary has the potential to be a fantastic learning experience regarding both marijuana and white elephants!
9. The Business of Drugs (2020)
‘The Business of Drugs,’ as the title suggests, is a documentary series that seeks to explain the origins and actual consequences of many types of strictly controlled narcotics. In other words, movie follows Amaryllis Fox, a former CIA analyst, as she analyzes the economics of six illegal substances in order to expose how they cause people to lose all inhibitions and consequently engage in exceedingly unsafe activities. This six-part mini-series also focuses on farming, smuggling, and sales to highlight that drugs are never simply for fun and games; they have far-reaching consequences that affect more than just the people who use them.
8. The Legend of Cocaine Island (2019)
Treasure hunts are fantastic. You get to play Sherlock, solve puzzles, and discover fascinating things. It appears to be a fun game for kids, but some individuals do these things for a job. Every year, expeditions are organized in search of buried treasure or the truth behind a myth. ‘The Legend of Cocaine Island’ tells the story of a man on a journey to find $2 million worth of cocaine! However, like with any treasure hunt, the route to this will be fraught with difficulties. Will he be able to overcome them and alter his life, or will he succumb to despair?
7. Take Your Pills (2018)
Everyone is addicted to something, whether it’s food, drugs, or simple pleasures like music or reading. But, while the majority of the world is focused on keeping their children away from marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, another type of narcotic is steadily taking over their life. It’s no secret that today’s world is rife with cutthroat competition, and one must maintain their wits about them if they expect to thrive. As a result, many people have turned to prescription medicines, particularly Adderall, to help them cope or to give them a boost. Some may feel that because they aren’t as hard as, say, heroin, they aren’t as bad, but ‘Take Your Pills’ proves them wrong.
6. Drug Lords (2018-)
We know from witnessing so many stories about antiheroes that things never go well for them. No matter how wealthy they become, how many people they kill in the process, or how far they flee to avoid justice, karma never fails to deliver. ‘Drug Lords’ recounts the stories of such people, from the kings of the trade to those who have behaved as nothing more than rooks to carry out business for some other titan they serve. Everyone has a role to play in the drug trade, and everyone will pay their dues when the time comes.
5. Cocaine (2005)
To solve a problem, you must first investigate its root cause. You must learn everything you can about it, right down to the basics, since only when you know where it comes from will you be able to do anything to eradicate it once and for all. Cocaine is one of the most regularly used narcotics, and its causes and consequences extend far beyond the addicts we see in our community. From the drug lords who make a fortune off of it to the farmers who are compelled to do whatever to survive in this farmer-unfriendly world, the three-part documentary series ‘Cocaine’ tells a never-before-told story.
4. Heroin(e) (2017)
Opioids are problematic; they’re not legal in any manner, shape, or form until medically prescribed by healthcare providers, but they’re nevertheless prevalent in most areas. That is precisely what ‘Heroin(e)’ explores by following three women – a fire chief, a judge, and a street missionary – as they strive to combat Huntington, West Virginia’s devastating opioid epidemic (the epicenter of the crisis). This Oscar-nominated film, directed by Elaine McMillion Sheldon, gives us an authentic insight into the realities of heroin, with a particular focus on the devastating cycle of its misuse.
3. Recovery Boys (2018)
‘Recovery Boys,’ directed by Elaine McMillion Sheldon, is a documentary about four guys seeking to remake themselves and reenter society as sober individuals after years of drug usage. They’d formed an unshakable friendship while healing together in a farm-based treatment, which means they support one another in the real world as well. This 2018 film can only be classified as a masterpiece because of the various yet similar storylines of identity, survival, temptation, and endurance.
2. Murder Mountain (2018)
This one is for individuals who want to learn about drugs while viewing a true-crime documentary at the same time. Set against the misty backdrop of North Carolina’s Humboldt County, ‘Murder Mountain’ focuses on the region’s marijuana economy as well as the killings that occurred there. Several others have also vanished from this location, but the saddest aspect is that the majority of these cases remain unresolved. One such case is Garret Rodriguez’s strange yet horrible death, which this six-part documentary dives into while awakening us up in this place’s cutthroat marijuana market.
1. Dope (2017)
Vices cannot be vanquished in a single day; rather, they must be fought, if not won, on a daily basis. Every day, you must remind yourself that what you are doing is worthwhile and motivate yourself to work harder. At least, this is what law enforcement does. Even in the midst of a never-ending battle with drugs, where they may frequently feel like they are on the losing end, these folks don’t give up; they keep going. They are, however, not the only ones involved. There are addicts, particularly recovering addicts, who must go on a path that may as well be personal hell in order to save themselves from certain death. These people’s efforts are heartening, but will they be enough to keep them alive? ‘Dope’ is the answer.