Living on Methadone

Living on Methadone follows the raw, resilient journeys of people navigating opioid addiction through methadone treatment, blending their stories with expert insight to reveal the triumphs, challenges, and hard truths of a life-saving yet stigmatized path to recovery. Set against the backdrop of America’s ongoing opioid crisis, the film weaves together patient experiences, expert and drug-historian perspectives, and historical context to show how policy, stigma, and inequity shape access to care—uncovering the complex, often unseen realities of medication-assisted treatment and pointing toward both urgent reform and genuine hope.

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 a patchwork of state-level regulations and clinic systems across the United States—the film reveals both the human cost of addiction and the possibility 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 highly effective yet deeply stigmatized intervention even after more than 60 years of use. The film also explores other medications, including buprenorphine and naltrexone. 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, more urgent 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.

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.