QCC hosted a screening of the powerful award-winning documentary “Recovery City” last week, followed by a panel discussion with cast members.
“Recovery City” was directed by Lisa Olivieri and follows four people from Worcester who are either in recovery from drug addiction or helping others with recovery. Olivieri's film provides an unfiltered look at the rippling effects of addiction while featuring moments that vary between intimate, ordinary, humorous and heartbreaking - but ultimately human.
After the screening, the panelists commented that for a long time, tough love was thought to be the best way to deal with people struggling with addiction. However, a mindset they referred to as "compassionate care" has shown to be much more effective. Individuals with addiction can be our family members, neighbors, or coworkers. They are humans who are sick and need support. One of the cast members, Six (formerly known as Christine during filming), relayed addiction research that has shown how the brain of a person with addiction puts their substance of choice ahead of everything, including basic needs such as food and shelter.
"People are already beating themselves up," said cast member Bridget, adding that before she could believe in herself, she had supporters who believed in her, which fueled her will to recover.
Rebecca, a recovery coach, echoed this sentiment with a simple message, "Love them. Most people just want someone to listen to them."
“Everyone's lives are touched by addiction and being able to pull back the curtain in our own community and see what these people's journeys have been, was an eye-opening experience,” said QCC’s Director of Health and Wellness Heather Lukas, organizer of the screening.
Lukas wanted to screen the film on campus to spread awareness about local issues such as the hazardous effects of opioid abuse. Lukas has completed work with the Worcester Department of Public Health’s opioid taskforce and the state’s Community Naloxone Program (CNP), which has allowed QCC to offer education and distribution of naloxone with the goal of preventing death from an opioid overdose.
“The fact that this was filmed in Worcester over five years, doesn’t show active drug use, but shows the featured women doing well really sets this film apart from other documentaries on this subject,” Lukas said, adding, “This is a powerful film that is a must watch.”