The Face of Addiction in Cinematic Art: A Review.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) have long been misinterpreted as character flaws rather than ailments. With the evolving body of medical research, a dichotomy has been formed between drunkenness and the disease we now know. Art has served a special role in the reflection of the human condition. It serves as both a third-party storyteller and an influencer of our perception of the world around us. For a modern analysis of SUD streaming technology was used to study film and the depiction of addiction through the last 70 years. This paper will explore the topic of film's ability to reliably report on this issue. Beautiful Boy is the most modern and the central film to the analysis. Research questions include: Can film accurately portray SUD? Specifically, the human suffering associated with addiction on the individual level and the family unit. Can it help people, who might not otherwise be exposed to its effects, understand the intricacies of addiction and reform? Now that we understand SUD to be a disease, art's role in portraying it to the public is crucial to recovery for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]