title: A Canadian perspective on documentary film: Drug Addict.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1948 the first National Film Board (NFB) documentary in Canada about illegal drugs, trafficking, and addiction was produced. The documentary is titled Drug Addict, and was directed by Robert Anderson. This paper provides a socio-historical context for the documentary Drug Addict. Viewing the film through the lens of Canadian history gives readers a better context to understand the claims and representations in the film about law enforcement, people who use illegal drugs and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  To examine Drug Addict, a socio-historical analysis and case study were conducted. This project's qualitative methodological framework is consistent with its critical theoretical perspective, drawing from Stuart Hall's perspectives on visual and textual representation and cultural criminology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Drug Addict is a significant documentary because it provides insight into early foundational law enforcement discourses and practices about illegal drugs, addiction, and treatment, including obstacles to drug substitution and maintenance programs. It also highlights the emergence of psychiatry as a new knowledge producer in the area of drug treatment. The film also transmits ideas about the criminal nature of addicts and the need for punitive criminal justice control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug Addict captures some past and contemporary tensions related to Canadian drug policy. The film also provides another lens to understand some of the foundational frameworks of Canadian drug policy such as the dominance of criminal justice, and its practices of knowledge production, the resistance espoused by institutions to diverse models of treatment such as drug maintenance programs, and the power of visual representation.
authors.affiliation: University of Victoria, Canada V8W 2Y2. Electronic address: scboyd@uvic.ca.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003415:Crime; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D064423:Drug Trafficking; D055030:Drug Users / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D009040:Motion Pictures / Q000266:history; D011050:Policy Making; D011639:Public Opinion; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Canadian drug policy; Documentary; Drug maintenance; Film; Media