“TEEN TRUTH: DRUGS ” (2007)

Produced by John C. Pohl & Erahm Christopher
Executive Producer: Brian Johnson
Associated Producer: Shane Williamson
Written, Edited & Directed by Erahm Christopher
B1 Films
Official Teen Truth Myspace
Director’s Official Site

Polly Staffle Rating: ***

“This is just my opinion, but if we are going to change anything in society, in America, in the world, it’s got to start with the youth. Kids are experiencing everything for the first time right now. They need to see that we can make a difference if we all work together.”
- Erahm Christopher

Shortly after the school shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., filmmakers JC Pohl and Erahm Christopher decided to tackle the problem of violence in the classroom. In 2006, they completed the highly praised documentary short “Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Bullying and School Violence.” Since then they’ve reached more than 250,000 students with their message by visiting schools, screening the film and discussing the issues.

While their efforts on the subjects of school bloodshed continue, the award-winning duo hopes their new film is able to inspire and save lives in a different way. Their follow-up looks at the important topic of substance abuse. Though it doesn’t have quite the power as their first production, “Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Drug & Alcohol Abuse” does pack an effective combo punch by entertaining and educating its viewers.

Christopher’s quick-paced film covers the downward spiral of an addict with great results. Instead of having some authority figure say “Drugs are bad, mmmkay” like “South Park” counselor Mr. Mackey, “Teen Truth: Drugs” uses a subjective journalist approach and presents facts and various points of views without ever getting preachy.

Like “Teen Truth: Bully,” this film uses music of Darren Fung, statistics, real 911 phone calls and footage shot by teenagers with great results. “Teen Truth: Drugs” also features visuals depicting illicit drug use, photos of car crashes caused by alcohol, as well as candid interviews with addicts, emergency room doctors and an undercover narcotics officer. All of the footage is weaved together to reveal the slow and unpleasant picture alcohol paints.

It all begins the same way for every addict - just one sip. Many say their friends or parents were doing it, so they wanted to give it a try. “Monkey see, monkey do,” one of the recovering addicts in the films states. Whether it was by sneaking a wine cooler from Mom, being given a brewski from big Brother or offered beer at an underage keg party, 65 percent of the youth who drink say they get alcohol from friends or family.

It doesn’t take long after that first taste for an individual to become a user of alcohol. Once they do, beer becomes as common as soda when hanging with friends. Recreation then grows into need. Once a week becomes twice a week. Then it becomes every day till eventually everything is about getting high. Nothing else matters. The alcohol more often than not progresses into marijuana, which then leads to cocaine, crystal meth, crack or heroin.

But like the old anti-drug campaigns used to declare: “No one ever says, ‘I want to be a junkie when I grow up.’” Nobody intends to become an addict. “It won’t happen to me.” “I’m not an addict.” “I can control it.” “I just drink to have a good time.” This is what they all say at some point. Each and every one of them that eventually ends up losing control of themselves. As a result they risk and often times lose their dreams, their friends, their family, their health and their future.

The lucky ones make it to a treatment center with physical, emotional and mental damages that are irreversible. They live out the rest of their lives fighting addictions, overcoming their physically deteriorating bodies and trying to heal the wounds they’ve inflicted on their loved ones. The unlucky ones end up homeless, in jail, in prison or institutions. The unluckiest - 135,000 people a year to be exact - just don’t make it at all and are laid to rest in a cemetery.

What led Christopher and Pohl to make the first “Teen Truth” film was the absence of a teen perspective in the media when in comes to school violence and bullying. To truly open the lines of communication on an issue, you have to make sure the voiceless are heard. Christopher and Pohl achieved that and the final result was the most understanding portrayal of school violence ever captured on film. “Teen Truth: Bully” went on to be a winner at the 2007 Golden Eagle Awards, which are known for excellence in documentary and other informational film and video productions.

With “Teen Truth: Drugs” they took a similar approach. They incorporated not only the perspectives of teenagers, but also those of recovering addicts, which ends up giving the film its power.

All of the addicts express that if they could to do it all over again, they would not have gotten involved with alcohol and drugs. “It starts off fun… but when it’s all over, the only person that’s paying the price is you,” one woman explains. Another female addict states: “A lot of my life is down the drain and I could never get it back.”

Even more touching are the words of another recovering addict. “You don’t realize, maybe when you have just a beer or just a hit of a joint where that’s going to take you,” she says near the end of the film. “Just one hit or one beer can change your whole life.” The film closes with her breaking down. “It’s so hard,” she states. “I just want to cry. It’s just hell. It’s a life of hell and it never goes away. Even when you stop, it doesn’t go away. Don’t ever start. Then you won’t have to stop.” Sometimes it is hard to believe it is that simple, but it is.

- CCF, January 2008