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When this film begins, there is a warning that the film is for audiences 17 and over. While I am loathe to recommend adult content to younger audiences, I really think this film is perfectly acceptable to be seen by kids 12 and up, as the message is extremely important and because this is still a rather sanitized view of the drug culture. Yes, there are some obscenities here and there, but the film easily could have featured much more adult content. Plus, with many kids, if they wait until they are 17 to see this film it is already too late.OPIATED is a fictionalized film that looks like a documentary. Using hip-hop music (that annoyed me, but I am an old geezer of 44) and young-oriented graphics and cuts, it is the story of a group of young adults who have thrown their lives away on drugs. Each tells their story--how they only wanted to experiment or have fun and then how the drug took control of them and ruined their lives. The message is exceptionally important that recreational drug use often leads to life-ending addiction and it's handled very, very well--and in a style that is sure to get young peoples' attention.There are only a few minuses in the film. The actors looked too healthy and sometimes even beautiful--something that sure wouldn't last for long. Having been a social worker and therapist who worked with addiction, I really would have loved to see the actors look more pathetic--with ample sores, missing teeth and the like. However, it's also unlikely that hard-core addicts would act in such a film or could be counted on to stay put or avoid stealing the equipment--so I can understand the choices of actors. Additionally, it's really unlikely that people with such divergent drugs of choice would hang together--meth addicts, coke heads and the like tend to congregate in like groups. Still these are minor details and this film fills a much needed niche for drug awareness education.The web site for the film is www.opiated.com/home.html if you are interested.
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