Comparison of the Movies, Reefer Madness, Days of Wine and Roses, and Clean and Sober

The movie, "Reefer Madness", in my opinion, is a movie provided to the public as a scare tactic to educate parents and their children about the dangers of smoking marijuana. Although it did provide some interesting information about marijuana, the facts throughout the movie seemed greatly exaggerated. I found this movie to be more comical than educating. I am not trying to say that I find the use of marijuana or any other drugs a laughing matter, but many of the events that occurred because of the use of marijuana were rather far fetched to me. The characters were portrayed as really immature teenagers who turned to marijuana for more of an entertaining experience. Many of them used the substance due to peer pressure, or trying to look cool and be popular amongst the others. The effects on them did include real effects, such as, lowered inhibitions, distorted perception, mood swings, impaired judgment, and uncontrollable laughter. Some of the characters even went as far as committing horrific crimes while under the influence, such as raping a girl, engaging in a hit and run, and causing an accidental shooting. I am clearly aware that this sort of thing can possibly happen in the real world. However, it is not so commonly heard of because of the involvement of marijuana. Most of these "accidents" occur while someone is under the influence of alcohol or other more dangerous drugs. In my own experience, pretty much everyone I have known at one point, smoked marijuana, including parents, teachers, peers, and relatives. I even experienced with it quite a few times growing up. No one I knew, however, was killed in any car accidents, raped anyone, or seriously hurt anyone, including themselves, simply because they were under the influence. These "potheads" that I knew smoked almost everyday, if not several times a day, and were more of an easy going or mellow type of people. Many of them even did really good in school and graduated at the top of our class. The only people that I came across that had any major accidents or incidents of violence were under the influence of alcohol, cocaine, crystal meth, heroin, acid, and many other intoxications.

The movie, The Days of Wine and Roses is also somewhat of an exaggerated example, but is a lot more realistic. The characters portrayed in the movie are alcoholics who go through the same cycle that many alcoholics, in the real world, go through. The female character is coerced into drinking due to a type of peer pressure, and then becomes an alcoholic herself. They both develop a large drinking habit as the movie progresses, without realizing that they have gotten worse. They both suffer from denial at one point and even engage in violent behavior when they run out of alcohol. Futhermore, the husband sees his reflection on a glass wall and truly sees the sad drunk that he has become. He decides to go home to his wife to try and convince her that they should both engage in a non alcoholic life. They stay sober for a while, and then fall back into their original pattern, which actually becomes more severe. The husband gets put away in an institution and eventually commits himself into an alcoholics anonymous program, while his wife's habit only worsens. Many alcoholics today do lead similar lives as these characters and find it rather hard to drop the habit. Many stop for a while and then get worse, while some others stay sober for years. It is often a very difficult task for many former alcoholics to quit cold turkey especially when they live in a place where someone close to them also drinks/ has an alcohol problem. The alcoholics anonymous program is a very real program with several members all over the world. It is in existence in hopes of being a strong support system to help alcoholics to become clean and lead better, sober lives. It is a great support system especially when your loved ones can't seem to stop themselves. At least if one partner/relative commits themselves to stopping, it is possible to help the other do so as well, gradually.

The third film, Clean and Sober, was an okay movie, but I just was not too crazy about it. I understand it was about a man who would not admit that he was an addict, although he knew he had an addiction problem. He finally joins a support group and still cannot admit to his problem. He later meets this female in the group who also has a drug addiction problem as well as an abusive relationship. He falls in love with her but she continues to stay with the abuser. At the end of the movie, I believe she died and he finally goes back to the group and admits to his problem. I didn't really like this movie because, I could not see or hear it very well. The storyline was pretty realistic because I know this sort of thing happens to many addicts in the real world. Many people have trouble admitting that they have a problem, even when deep down, they know. Some won't even find a support group because they feel that it will embarrass them or that others will find out that they are there. In the movie, Michael was worried someone would find out that he was in the group, so he kept asking about it to make sure. One of the women working there assured him that the matter would be confidential, and so he became a bit more relieved. However, although it is supposed to be a confidential matter, in real life, sometimes others find out on their own. Joining a support group is a big step and some people never take it. Instead, their problem only worsens and they just continue to ruin their lives.

I enjoyed the second film the most because it is so much more realistic and does teach the viewer many important facts. It serves as a good educational film for those who have never really had an experience with alcohol themselves. It may not have convinced everyone who sees it to stop, but it may have aided a few. Stopping a few is definitely better than stopping none at all. Letting the public see that drinking or smoking even a little can lead to a lifetime of regrets while intoxicated, is a great idea. People need to be aware of these dangers of getting used to having "one little drink" or "a few hits" every now and then.