Suppose somebody dramatized the heroin recovery process rather than lament the crisis. Hide recovery answers under turning points in the story. It would look something like this:

Back Story

Parole Agent Phil McGuire, eight years sober, chairs the largest Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Baltimore City. He just abruptly terminated a blossoming romantic relationship with Angela West. Angela, an attractive elementary school teacher, has only brief experiences of recovery principles.  She does not understand why Phil ended things and is very angry about it. She would like to write Phil McGuire out of her life forever, but she must join him for a mutually agreed upon meeting with police.

EXT. RESTAURANT PARKING LOT – NIGHT

Angela and McGuire exit their cars at the same time but they ignore each other as they head toward the entrance.

INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Angela, McGuire, and Sergeant Wynant shake hands and are seated at the table. McGuire is aware that Angela slides her chair as far as possible from him. The WAITRESS approaches.

WAITRESS
(to Angela)
Would you like a drink?

ANGELA (V.O.)

I haven’t had one in 38 days, but yes, I’d like a drink.
McGuire winces.

ANGELA (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Ice water, please.

McGuire smiles.

BACK TO SCENE

WAITRESS
And you, sir?

MCGUIRE
Ice water….., that’s perfect!

WAITRESS
(to Wynant) And you, sir?

WYNANT

Gimme a beeee… Uh, I mean ice water. No ice.

WYNANT (CONT’D)
Am I missing something?

MCGUIRE
Recovering addicts don’t use alcohol.

Wynant points to McGuire. McGuire nods.

WYNANT
Good to know. Now, Angela, that killing in the mansion. Witherspoon. Did you know that man?

She shakes her head.

WYNANT CONT’D)

I didn’t think so. These guys bring heroin overland from Mexico and cocaine by ship from Colombia. They’re using bizarre methods to scare off or kill competition. The guy killed at the mansion was livin’ on breadcrumbs at his parents’ house.

He borrowed their car. When it wasn’t returned the parents used their OnStar tracking device. We found the car but no body.

Wynant hands them a picture.

WYNANT (CONT’D)
What about him.

ANGELA
Billy Francisco! He gave us the video.

WYNANT
He was found behind a pool hall with a bullet in the back of his head.

EXT. RESTAURANT – DAY
Indistinct conversation between McGuire, Angela, and Wynant. A big grin from Wynant as they shake hands.

WYNANT
So, you’re staying in a convent… Now that’s pretty darned creative. Just make sure you stay there.

Wynant heads toward his car. Without looking at McGuire, Angela does likewise. McGuire catches up to her, but she keeps walking.

MCGUIRE
I had thirty-eight days clean once.

Explanation

  • Recovery Principle One: In the scene above: Early recovery romance often torpedoes the lives of those in early recovery. It can take a year to clarify the habits, friends, and attitudes that make recovery successful. No one should be looking for romance while they still learn the rules. Statistics from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore advise that those with eight years sober, like Phil McGuire, remain sober at the level of 90%. However, in the first year of recovery success is only 50%. McGuire is clearly attracted to Angela but knows that for her own good she isn’t ready for romance now.
  • Recovery Principle Two: Opioid addiction affects exactly the same neurotransmitters in the brain that often lead to alcoholism. Angela has been told that she must avoid alcohol permanently, but she probably doesn’t understand why. The progression normally starts with a new addiction to alcohol eventually leading back to heroin, her drug of choice. Hence, McGuire has reason to be happy when Angela opts for ice water.
  • Recovery Principle Three: Find a Trusted Counselor.Back Story: Angela ,now in rehab, explains how a committed school teacher got addicted to heroin and cocaine.

      OUTSIDE/INSIDE – ROOM 406 – DAY     

    Father Max unlocks the rehab door and enters.

    Angela, head in hands, sits in a chair, shaking. Consoling, he puts a gentle hand on her shoulder.

    ANGELA

    I thought I was getting better.

    FATHER MAX

    It will happen. But they tell me you

    won’t talk to anyone. Will you let

    me in? Can you tell me what happened?

    He takes a seat on the bed and motions for her to sit beside him.

    ANGELA

    Letting someone in is why I’m here. (gallows laugh)

    Did you know I used to be a teacher?

    Father Max shakes his head.

    ANGELA (CONT’D)

    Fifth grade. Loved the kids, the school, even the principal. Lost it all because —

    (bitter)

    I let someone in.

    FATHER MAX

    Who was that?

    She smiles ruefully.

    ANGELA

    Met him at church.

    FLASHBACK:

    EXT. ESSEX SKY PARK – DAY

    DAVE, ruggedly handsome, smiles at Angela as he assists her into his Piper Cub.

    OVER CHESAPEAKE BAY – DAY

    The Piper Cub flies above the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

    EXT. SMALL AIRFIELD – DAY

    Dave lands the plane in a small airfield with Terry’s Malt Shop in view.

    INT. TERRY’S MALT SHOP – DAY

    At a long counter, visitors shop for souvenirs.

    Angela and Dave sit on the same side of a private booth with a large picture window that faces the bay. Sailboats bob gently in the summer breeze. They hold hands and share a chocolate shake with two straws.

    ANGELA (V.O.)

    One milk-shake, five dollars. Round trip over the Chesapeake Bay-priceless.

    FATHER MAX (V.O.)

    Expensive way to impress somebody.

    ANGELA (V.O.)

    I was already impressed. Dave was handsome. I loved flying in his plane that is until I learned he wasn’t just using it for milk-shake runs.

    EXT. LANDING STRIP ON CORNFIELD – DAY

    Dave’s plane glides to a short airstrip at the edge of a cornfield. Cars approach from three directions and packages pass from Dave to three other men who each hand Dave a fat envelope. Dave returns to the plane and takes off.

    BACK TO SCENE

    ANGELA

    And stupid weak me, I loved him even when he started me using heroin. I stayed with him much too long. I should have dumped him. Now he’s gone but my habit’s not.

    • Recovery Principle Four: Never Trust the Drug Culture.

    Back Story:

    Angela West, a gifted and attractive elementary school teacher, accepts an invitation from Mark O’Brien to attend a heroin party. After using heroin she makes a trip to the ladies’ room and plans to return to the party. On her way, armed with nothing more than her skills in Tae Kwon Do, she makes an unusual discovery:

    Angela exits into the — HALL

    She follows the voice to the — LIBRARY

    Through only candlelight she sees guests lining the perimeter, and O’Brien, her date, right at the door.

    She enters, smiles and takes his arm. Only then does SHE SEE

    Escorts at room’s center, at attention around a table resembling an altar. Witherspoon, a police informant is face-up, gagged and pinned down by his bearers.

    Rodriguez, The Drug Kingpin, sits in a large chair, much like a throne. He nods to one of the servants.

    The servant passes a sword to Ryker.

    Ryker lifts the sword over his head and thrusts it into Witherspoon’s heart.

    Angela GASPS and dashes from the room. O’Brien motions for a servant to follow her.

    BATHROOM – NIGHT

    Angela hyperventilates. Her eyes dart to the window. She raises it, hears urgent footsteps approaching and positions herself behind the door.

    The footsteps stop. Angela yanks open the door startling her pursuer. He stumbles in, bolts forward, and BANGS his head on the open window frame.

    She rabbit-punches him in the neck. As he slumps forward she spins him toward the open window and, in see-saw fashion, rolls him through.

    She rams the clothes hamper in front of the open door as

    Mark O’Brien, gun drawn, races in, somersaults over the hamper and slams his head on the marble floor.

    His gun flies free. Angela grabs it as O’Brien stands.

    She gestures with the gun to back up toward the shower curtain and then shoves him. Swallowed into the oversized billows, O’Brien flails in confusion.

    The curtain rod bounces. Ping, ping, ping go the sprockets as their uninvited guest thrashes blindly.

    Angela locks the door, then squeezes halfway through the window. She gasps as she peers down two stories that overlook the lawn bathed in outdoor lights.

    EXT. RODRIGUEZ MANSION – NIGHT

    Angela steels herself to step onto a narrow ledge with a lifeline of an overhanging oak.

    She hand-walks the largest limb to the trunk, conceals herself in its crevice and looks down 25 feet.

    SHE SEES

    Frantic men with flashlights and guns circle angrily below. No one looks up.

    ON ANGELA

    She looks at her watch. It’s midnight. EXT. CITY STREET – NIGHT

    A policeman checks his watch: 2 a.m.

    Angela starts to descend. Then, crack! The limb gives way and she lands with a loud thud. She rubs her ankle, stands, and stumbles into the black forest.

    EXT. FOREST – NIGHT

    Like the tip of a frozen sunrise, lights crest in the too far distance. Angela thrashes, demands herself forward.

    A prison-style fence forbids. The barrier guarding an Interstate is higher than she can jump.

    Clawing like a leopard she yanks, pulls, twists to the top, then rolls and falls across.

    EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY – NIGHT

    Inching up a hill Angela spies high-speed traffic racing past. Orange construction barrels block the inside lane. She shoves several of them into traffic. As traffic halts she crawls back to the side and passes out.

    • Recovery Principle Five: Know how to recognize the HALT PRINCIPLE. 

    Back Story: Angela has escaped from the mansion but can’t escape from her drug habit.

    INT. HOME OF MRS. WEST – BEDROOM – DAY

    Angela, in bed, squirms, rolls, and turns, bunches up her pillow, kicks off her blankets, finally gets up.

    EXT. ANGELA’S MOTHER’S CADILLAC – MOVING – NIGHT

    Angela, parks at the corner of Monroe and Pratt Streets, watches a junkie pay the drug dealer and hustle into an alley. Angela following, pays for heroin, receives her white bag, returns to her car.

    As she starts the engine the dealer compares a picture of Angela to his last customer. He makes a cell phone call.

    INT. HOME OF MRS. WEST – LIVING ROOM – DAY

    Mrs. West and Angela peek through the blinds. Ryker’s red Camaro is at the front sidewalk. Panicked, Angela grabs a phone and dials.

    ANGELA

    A red car in front of my house doesn’t belong here. I think they found me.

    EXT. ANGELA’S MOTHER’S HOME – DAY

    Angela runs from the house to Father Max’ car and jumps in.

    As Father Max’s SUV pulls away the Camaro SQUEALS out in front, trying to force him into a telephone pole.

    INT. FATHER MAX’S SUV MOVING – DAY

    FATHER MAX

    What’s he…?

    EXT. CITY STREET – DAY

    The SUV spins into an alley, then turns into another. Seemingly from nowhere Ryker’s Camaro caroms off a trash can as it overshoots in front of them. Ryker slows.

    Father Max slides past Ryker before he can stop.

    Both cars reach the main road, Ryker half a block behind. Father Max lurches around construction at the last second.

    Ryker’s car tramples yellow warning cones, grazes a city truck but keeps going.

    INT. FATHER MAX’S SUV MOVING – DAY

    Father Max tosses his cell phone at Angela.

    FATHER MAX

    Call Peterson’s garage. Peterson. Speed dial.

    Right front and rear windows shatter from shots of Ryker’s overtaking car.

    Father Max speeds down St. Paul Street motioning for the phone. Angela shoves it back to him.

    FATHER MAX (CONT’D)

    (on phone)

    Johnny! It’s Father Max. I need your help! Clear the front–now! Gray Nissan SUV coming through.  A red Camaro is chasing us.

    Father Max makes four one-block right turns but doesn’t lose Ryker.

    EXT./INT.PARKING GARAGE – DAY

    With the Camaro on his tail, Father Max high fives JOHNNY PETERSON, a tall African-American wearing a Peterson’s Parking shirt. Peterson waves the zooming Nissan through the entrance.

    And Father Max speeds straight out the exit. The Camaro follows into the entrance.

    INT. PARKING GARAGE – DAY

    Peterson hits a button and throws up exit spikes.

    BOOM BOOM. Both of the Camaro’s front tires impale and explode.

    BOOM BOOM. And there go the two rear tires.

    Guns drawn, two security guards wearing large arm-bands marked ESSEX SECURITY spring forward followed by Peterson. Peterson motions for Ryker to roll down the window.

    PETERSON

    Think you forgot something.

    RYKER

    Yeah, my anti-blowout tires.

    Peterson puts out his hand.

    PETERSON (CONTD)

    Five bucks for any part of the first half hour.

    INT. FATHER MAX’S CAR MOVING – DAY

    As they pass a 45 mile per hour speed limit sign, Father Max looks at his speedometer.70.

    FATHER MAX

    Holy crapoli.

    He begins to slow. Too late. Red swirling lights are behind them. Father Max pulls over and turns off the ignition.

    EXT. FATHER MAX’ CAR – DAY

    OFFICER GRADY, gets out ticket book in hand and goes to Father Max’s car. When he sees who’s behind the wheel he puts the ticket book to the side.

    OFFICER GRADY

    Oh, Father! Chasing demons are we?

    Father Max nods and looks at Angela.

    FATHER MAX

    Yes, that’s the truth.

    OFFICER GRADY

    Well, we’re on the same side.

    FATHER MAX

    That we are.  And how is Julie?

    OFFICER GRADY

    Fine now, thanks to you, Father.

    Officer Grady gets back in his vehicle. Father Max doesn’t restart the car. He just shakes his head.

    ANGELA

    Speeding a priestly privilege?

    FATHER MAX

    Not one I’d want to avail myself of again. Tearing through the streets like some kind of action figure.

    Terrifying.

    ANGELA

    You didn’t seem terrified.

    FATHER MAX

    That’s the terrifying part. I was feeling this huge rush, probably something you can relate to.

    Angela looks away.

    FATHER MAX (CONT’D)

    Angela, look at me.

    Without turning she lowers her head.

    FATHER MAX (CONT’D)

    You’re playing a dangerous game here and if you want to be part of the living, you need to be in rehab.

    Finally, when she looks at Father Max her face is crossed with terror.

    ANGELA

    Rehab! You think I need rehab. Look what we just went through. What I need is to be far, far away from here.

    Father Max takes Angela’s hands in his.

    FATHER MAX

    Believe me, Angela, rehab is one of the safest places you can be.

    He pats her hand.

    FATHER MAX (CONT’D)

    C’mon. I bet you are more than ready for the HALT principle.

    She looks puzzled.

    FATHER MAX (CONT’D)

    Hungry, angry, lonely or tired.

    Lightens as she counts on her fingers.

    ANGELA

    Do I get extra credit for all four?

    Other scenes explain additional principles: 6) If Rehab Fails, Enter Detox Treatment Quickly, 7) The 12 Step Fellowship Builds Lasting Bridges to Recovery, 8) Learn to Replace Drug Highs with Natural Highs

    Examples: practicing your jump shot, playing the guitar, going jogging, learning how to paint landscapes, taking a ride in the country, reading biographies or watching television comedies or detective stories, listening to your styles of music.

    9 ) Tough love: The Casablanca Moment. 10)Hope for fugitive heroin addicts,(YouTube video: World’s Fastest Drug Recovery.)