UK Sky Anytime - Ben: Diary of a heroin addict

[MrG]

While I post this, I am watching the 'supposed' real-life documentary of a heroin addict called Ben on Sky TV Anytime (from a scheduled Sky1 program)

I have never experienced opiate addiction. I do, however, have an immediate relative who has taught me a great deal about living with opiate addiction.

Whilst watching this program a couple of things struck me:

1) The, supposed, 'perfect' family that Ben comes from claim that he had no reason to become a heroin addict.
2) They quickly explain the route of the, formally perfect boy, through the 'gateway' drug of media choice (marijuana) onto full blown opiate addiction with, apparently, no good reason.
3) Ben, even though reaching the lofty lows of begging on the street in order to be able to afford his score still, incredibly, manages to keep hold of an expensive video camera throughout, in order to document his struggle, his ordeal.
4) One scene has Ben filming his 70+ year old father claiming that his addiction and needs are the reason why he needs to keep working in order to keep the house they live in. It is well known that, in the UK, registered addicts are entitled to numerous benefits in order to assist their living expenses and welfare. No, not a life of Riley, but enough to stop his family from having to sell off their silver yet, strangely, his father claimed that Ben's addiction was the reason why they couldn't pay the bills.
5) His mother claims that, as junkie's are often known to, Ben would lie about not having any money to feed himself and therefore would con her out of money that he would then use to score. My wife kindly pointed out that a mother's normal response would have been to, either cook him some dinner, or give him food to take with him. Why, when his family was so perfect, did she claim that he constantly conned money off her for food when she could have simply provided him with the actual meals he needed instead of cash?

I could be wrong, I don't think I am, but something is rotten in Denmark when it comes to this documentary.

I would love to hear other people's view of this program if you are in a position to view it.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Propaganda is propaganda

[chillinwill]

I wasn't able to view it but as Red Rock knows someone with opiate addiction and lives in the USA, he wishes he could get benefits from the government for living expenses and welfare for being an addict. The USA used to do something of this nature on Social Security or disability but have stopped doing that now. Red Rock truly believes this would help many addicts that genuinely want to get clean but finances and whatnot make it hard to

Sorry about going off topic slightly on that little rant but after reading your post, that just made me think of that

[dyingtomorrow]

SWIM always gets a kick out of these kind of stereotypical pieces of propaganda with a "documentary" label pasted over them. Thanks for posting this.

Probably the reason why they all turn out the same, with similar bullshit that doesn't link up, is because when you start with an ASSumption in your head that you could never be convinced otherwise about, and then try and pawn off your half assed attempts at objectivity to the public as "documentary journalism," you are inevitably going to get the exact same steaming pile of shit that every bush league journalist, struggling internally to convince himself that his/her creation is "impartial" because the truth is so universally obvious, ends up crapping out.

[Dickon]

I read today "Ben died from a brain haemorrhage, only 24 hours after booking himself into a detox programme to try to overcome his addiction". Life is an odd apple of worms, or can of carts, or some such.

Smell the roses while you can

Dickon

[Ilsa]

jeez...yeah, it's important to remember that one could be hit by a bus tomorrow and enjoy life now--responsibly though i guess. it's a delicate balance between the damned bus and long-term planning