Library screening movie to open discussion on addiction and recovery. Courtesy/Amazon Studios

By Jayk Sterkenburg

In the community

Medicine Hat public library screening movie to open discussion on addiction and recovery

Nov 13, 2024 | 5:45 PM

Discussions about addiction and recovery are intimidating and certainly never easy for everyone involved.

Communicating tough topics such as these can come in many forms, perhaps easing the effort in the process.

Our Collective Journey, a Medicine Hat-based mental health service that offers recovery coaching, has facilitated many events to assist those at-risk.

Derrick Lillico, Community Engagement Coordinator for Our Collective Journey, explains their reasoning behind holding a screening event at the Library for the movie Beautiful Boy.

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“What we’re hoping to do is to kind of educate people around addiction and to help family members to understand what their loved one is dealing with,” He said.

“And at the same time, it also gives a perspective of somebody who’s struggling with substance use,” He added.

The organization will be showing Beautiful Boy on two separate days, Nov. 14 and the second half of the film on Nov. 28.

Lillico said that anyone troubled by addiction is welcome to attend, as well as those who know someone who may be in that situation.

“Anybody who’s been affected by addiction, families, partners, you know, people who are still caught up in active addiction and maybe don’t know where to turn to get help,” he said.

Discussions will be held following each screening to offer an open dialogue, an opportunity that most feel isn’t available with a like-minded group.