HBO to air “Addiction,” a 14-part TV documentary project

“How can we comprehend the concept of a person who wants to stop doing something and cannot, despite catastrophic consequences?” asks Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “That is what we are up against. Some people don't want to speak about addiction, or compare it to other chronic diseases. Well, this is a disease, a treatable disease, and it needs to be understood. HBO's “Addiction” project is an initiative that will help people understand more about this illness, its advancements and how to find help."

According to an HBO news release, one in four Americans has a family member who is struggling with addiction. Over 80 percent of people with substance abuse or dependence disorder started using before age 18.  Today, addiction affects 22.2 million Americans. Yet only 9 percent receive treatment they need.

For the “Addiction” project, HBO partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It includes an unprecedented multi-media campaign to  help Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease and spotlight new medical advancements. 

The centerpiece, 90-minute “Addiction” documentary will debut at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 15. The campaign will include a 14-part documentary series, a book published by Rodale Press, four independent addiction-themed films, a website and a national grassroots campaign funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

For the first time, HBO will use all its digital platforms, including multiplex channels, on-demand, podcasts, web streams and DVDs. The films will initially be offered during a free HBO preview weekend from Thursday, March 15 to Sunday, March 18 in participating cable systems. Watch the HBO web site for details to be announced.