The following questions highlight salient points of alcoholism, drug addiction, and other addictions from the awards show. They are listed to stimulate discussion, to help you on your recovery journey and enhance your viewing experience.

1. James Denton who won the PRISM Award for performance in a Comedy Series for “Desperate Housewives” portrayed a middle aged husband who became addicted to painkillers after being treated for a physical injury. After discovering he was abusing his pain medication, his wife Teri Hatcher stated, “Is living with me so bad that you have to use those drugs?” She also stated, “You wouldn’t be doing it if you loved me.” Family members often take our drug abuse personally. How did your family react to your drug abuse? Who, in your family, took your drug abuse most personally and how did you respond to them?

After being confronted by his wife, James Denton went to the sink and poured his pills into the garbage disposal. With addiction it is common to break sincere promises to stop. Discuss a situation where you made a resolution not to use after being confronted, only to find yourself breaking your resolution and once again getting high.

2. In the episode of “The Simpsons” that won the PRISM Award for “Comedy Series Episode,” Homer develops problems from using “Nappien,” an over the counter sleeping medication. He seemed surprised that his dependence was causing mood swings. In recovery it is necessary to be aware of the potential side effects of medications. Discuss how taking certain over the counter medications or prescribed medications could trigger a relapse.

3. In “Life Support” Queen Latifah portrays a woman who is HIV positive as a result of shooting cocaine. When we are in our addiction we thoughtlessly place ourselves in many high risk situations. Discuss several high risk situations you have been in as a direct result of your addiction. How might those situations place other people in your life in jeopardy? What are you willing to do to take responsibility to insure that your behavior is not placing someone in danger? For example, in “Life Support” Queen Latifah was encouraging the women to ask their partners to be tested for HIV.

4. In “Brothers and Sisters” Sally Field’s plays the mother of a combat veteran who returns with extremely painful injuries. He is also a recovering drug addict who is clean and sober. It is intolerable to his mother to watch him suffer, so she demands that he consider taking pain medication which he knows can be a slippery slope. This exemplifies co-dependent behavior. Discuss how the co-dependent people in your life have responded to your addiction and how you responded.

Ultimately staying clean and sober is your responsibility. In “Brother and Sisters” a well intentioned mother urges her son to use pain medication which turns out to lead to a relapse. What kind of boundary would you need to set if you were in this kind of situation to insure your recovery? How might our addict self use a situation like this to justify a relapse?

5. Ben Kingsley plays a mob hit man in “You Kill Me.” He goes to AA because his drinking is interfering with his job, “killing people.” How did your addiction impair your job performance?

6. In “Michael Clayton” a lawyer with bipolar disorder relapses. His relapse was caused by failing to take his medication. Like mental disorders addiction requires ongoing treatment to prevent relapse. What are the steps you need to take to prevent relapse?

7. In a “Sopranos” episode, Tony’s son, A.J., attempts suicide, and then regrets his actions. Addiction, like depression, creates a certain perception of the world, self and one’s future. Discuss how addiction has skewed your perception of the world, your self-concept, and your future.

8. “The E! True Hollywood Story” episode show on the “Osbournes” documented an intervention with their 17 year old son, Jack. What were the events that led to your entering treatment? How do you feel about how you entered treatment?

9. Ben Vereen won the PRISM Award for his role in the “Love Addiction” episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” He was the victim of an explosion caused by a crystal meth lab in his neighbor’s apartment. Vereen was surprised to find out that the explosion originated in his neighbor’s apartment, “They didn’t look like addicts.” Stereotypes about addicts and alcoholics are common in our society. What is your concept of what constitutes an alcoholic or an addict?

10. In the episode of “ER” where Abby relapses we get a very accurate depiction of the alcoholic’s thought process. Abby discusses her relapse with her former sponsor and starts questioning whether she is a “real alcoholic.” This shift in our mind set is quite common upon relapse and shows how easily our brain can be hijacked. Describe some circumstances where you have exhibited the “stinking thinking” that Abby demonstrated.

11. In “Gone Baby Gone” Casey Affleck plays a detective investigating a missing woman who is a “crack addict.” He finds her being judged based on her addiction. Because of his personal experience he knows that their judgment is incomplete. Discuss times that you felt that you have been judged incorrectly based on your addiction. What would you like people who have judged you to know about who you really are?

12. A lyric from one of the songs from the award winning album, “The Heroin Diaries” by Nikki Sixx’s band Sixx: A.M. says, “You can’t live until you die.” What does this mean in recovery?

13. In the Unscripted Nonfiction Program Category, “Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is” shows how her mother’s willingness to share her pain and suffering with other women in recovery helped turn her weakness and wound into a strength and sacred wound. Discuss the importance of working with others in recovery.

14. The film “Georgia Rule” shows three generations of women: daughter, mother and grandmother struggling with the mother’s alcoholism. Share how your addiction impacted your family.

Developed for the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. by Allen Berger, Ph.D. Psychologist and Author of “12 Stupid Things that Mess Up Recovery” co-authored by Tom Sawdei.