Living on Methadone

Living on Methadone follows the raw, resilient journeys of three patients navigating opioid addiction through methadone treatment, blending their stories with expert insights to reveal the triumphs, challenges, and truths behind a life-saving yet stigmatized recovery process.Living on Methadone is a feature documentary that traces the raw and resilient journeys of three individuals in methadone treatment, set against the backdrop of America’s opioid crisis. Interwoven with expert perspectives and historical context, the film exposes how policy, stigma, and inequity shape access to recovery—revealing the complex, often unseen realities of a life-saving but misunderstood treatment system.

Living on Methadone explores the transformative yet complex role of methadone in opioid addiction recovery. Through the intimate stories of Aaron, Pamela, and Emma—set against the contrasting regulatory landscapes of Texas, New York, and Washington, D.C.—the film reveals both the human cost of addiction and the hope of redemption. Interwoven with perspectives from recovery specialists, counselors, law enforcement, and policymakers, it examines the science, history, and politics of medication-assisted treatment, focusing on methadone as a diverse yet stigmatized program even after 60 years of use. With a raw yet compassionate tone, the documentary blends observational storytelling with avant-garde visuals to challenge stigma, advocate for accessible care, and spark a deeper conversation about the opioid crisis.

At the heart of Living on Methadone are four central figures whose stories embody the struggle, resilience, and humanity behind recovery.

Pamela — A mother piecing together a life shattered by addiction. Currently on a methadone program, Pamela opens up about the roots of addiction in the Black community, the emotional weight of motherhood amid dependency, and her powerful turning point toward recovery.

Aaron — A Vietnam veteran and father who transforms the anguish of losing his daughter to a fentanyl overdose into strength. After a decade-long battle with addiction, Aaron finds sobriety through methadone treatment, offering an unflinching look at the recovery process and the stigma that shadows it.

Emma — A composite character inspired by more than twenty interviews with women in recovery. A young mother confronting bureaucratic barriers while fighting to reclaim her life, Emma’s story dramatizes the quiet courage of survival. Her six-year-old daughter stands beside her as both witness and symbol of hope for a better future.

Dr. Robert L. DuPont — A pioneer in addiction treatment and an unwavering advocate for medication-assisted programs for over fifty years. As the nation’s second “Drug Czar” and founder of the first methadone clinic in Washington, D.C., Dr. DuPont shares rare insights from his time under Presidents Nixon and Ford, reflecting a lifetime devoted to science, compassion, and care.

Together, their journeys form a tapestry of healing—echoing the triumphs and struggles of millions seeking recovery. In addition to the main characters, the film features a range of voices from across the treatment landscape, including lawmakers, law enforcement officers, doctors, researchers, and counselors. Their perspectives deepen our understanding of the recovery process and highlight how collective awareness, empathy, and informed policy can help build a safer and healthier society.

Through a blend of observational realism and poetic, cinematic storytelling, Living on Methadone transcends genre to connect across boundaries of addiction, race, and language. Centered on pain and relief, its hybrid documentary form invites audiences into a deeply emotional space—one that challenges stigma and opens dialogue about recovery, resilience, and reform.

As the opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities, an estimated 2.4 to 4 million Americans survive non-fatal overdoses each year—facing lasting trauma, complex health challenges, and limited access to treatment options like methadone. Living on Methadone turns toward these survivors, highlighting solutions and offering hope where despair too often prevails.

In 2023, the CDC reported that more than 220 Americans died each day from opioid overdoses—over 80,000 lives lost in a single year (NCHS Data Brief No. 491, March 2024). Behind these numbers are human stories of struggle, resilience, and recovery—stories that urgently need to be seen and heard.

Living on Methadone began in 2022 as a collaboration between filmmaker Mani Mehrvarz and community leader Thomas U. Kim. What started as a local story soon grew into a broader exploration of addiction, treatment, and recovery across the United States. Now based in Austin, Texas, the project continues to evolve through firsthand stories from patients, counselors, and experts—reflecting the state’s pivotal role in shaping the national dialogue on opioid treatment and public health.