Educational Media Reviews Online

The adverse impact of opioid addiction has reached all regions of the United States. JustUs is a short film that follows Pedro, his family, and friends as they battle opioid addiction that is gripping his community in Northern New Mexico. With limited resources from the state and federal government, this community is left to tackle the addiction of those around Pedro. With no rehabilitation centers or other relevant medical facilities, Pedro looks to religion and spirituality for help in battling addiction. Pedro utilizes a mix of Catholicism and the healing power of a Curandero who employs folk remedies. The mixture of religious and spiritual approaches to battle addiction illustrates the unique culture of this community.

The lack of support to battle the opioid addiction in this community from the state and federal government is evident in a poignant scene when Pedro delivers a petition for support to the office for the Governor of New Mexico. As Pedro hands the government official the petition, he asks them to handle the document with care as those who have signed shed tears on the paper. With this touching comment, the government official simply takes the document.

While the film offers a clear view of the impact of addiction in this community, the lack of information about the historic roots of this community, the current economic, political, and social realities leave the audience with more questions than answers. This information would provide context for the use of religion and spirituality to battle opioid addiction. This is particularly true for audiences who are unfamiliar with this region and its populations.

While this film has value in recording the lived experience of those struggling with opioid addictions, the film does not fully explore the context of opioid addiction or the faith and spirituality of this community. This lack of focus beyond documenting Pedro’s experience limits the audience for this film. Library collections focused on opioid addiction and alternative treatment options may find this film appropriate for selections. Ultimately, there are limited classroom applications for this title. For those with a strong understanding of this particular community, this film will provide a clear insight into the population’s struggle with addiction; however, this film is not recommended for a general audience.

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