“For every addict, there are many more people devastated by their actions and addiction. First time documentary maker, Carthew Neal discovered this when he arrived back in NZ last year to try to save his best friend from her P addiction.
This authorial documentary is a gritty tale of friendships tested, emotions stretched and tempers frayed as two friends comes to grips with the power of P addiction.
Carthew's friend was suicidal and had isolated herself from her old 'straight' friends when he arrived. The drugs had started as a way of having fun and getting away from her problems but things had quickly escalated and she was soon out of control. Naively Carthew thought by documenting the process of her coming off, she may commit to kicking the habit.
A few weeks into her recovery she pulled out of the documentary admitting that she had relapsed. Feeling confused and frustrated that she wasn't able to stop - even with Carthew's help - he went in search of answers by meeting others who are supporting loves ones to get off.
Tricia in Taupo gave her 25 year old son $20,000 over two years before she realised he was addicted to P. She found him in a dingy flat in Auckland crying into his pillow having had a break down. He came home for 3 months to rest and recover during which time he went to addiction counselling before returning to Auckland. When she discovers her son's P bags she hopes that he doesn't start again.
A month after Carthew's friend had relapsed, she asked him for help to get into rehab. He quickly jumped into action finding out all he could about residential rehab options. A week later when they discussed her choices, his friend suddenly decided that she couldn't commit - causing more resentment between the pair.
At breaking point Carthew meets Elaine on Auckland's North Shore. She had seven people in her family using P and had been dealing with this 'epidemic' for the past six years including her younger sister, Georgina who is coming off now.” TVNZ; tvnz.co.nz; 10/11/2005