Addiction
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 15, 2007
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12

Critic Reviews

  1. Kansas City Star
    Reviewed by: Aaron Barnhart
    80
    An example of the pay cable channel at its finest.
  2. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    60
    A relentlessly grim and deeply depressing viewing experience.
  3. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    70
    In taking an illuminative approach, HBO gives audiences a comprehensive series that covers an impressive amount of ground.
  5. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    60
    The overall approach, though, inevitably yields a series of individual images as opposed to a cohesive perspective, relying upon various directors to capture the sometimes harrowing, sometimes heartbreaking scope of the problem.
  6. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    80
    A wide-ranging work and a compelling one.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    70
    The closer you are to living with an addict or an addiction, the more essential you'll find this viewing, obviously, but the less personally involved will still find much of scientific and human interest.
  8. The New Republic
    Reviewed by: Sacha Zimmerman
    80
    "Addiction" does not make the viewer a voyeur, but rather a participant in the need for more and better solutions.
  9. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Virginia Heffernan
    60
    The film is bereft of feel-good scenes and drug-movie clichés.
  10. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Joanna Weiss
    60
    This is less a documentary project than a comprehensive self-help workshop.... As drama, however, it's a little bit relentless.
  11. Salon
    Reviewed by: Heather Havrilesky
    70
    This enlightening series clearly has an agenda: to help addicts and their families set aside the guilt and anger associated with addiction long enough to do the concrete work of thoroughly treating the disease.
  12. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: John Maynard
    80
    Gripping.
  13. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    60
    [It] has a certain instructional dryness.

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best TV Season of 2007
98
#98 Most Discussed TV Season of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. EmilyM
    Mar 29, 2007
    0
    I was a user. I am not powerless to any drug. I got clean with out phych meds. the numbers they show for people beomming clean are so I was a user. I am not powerless to any drug. I got clean with out phych meds. the numbers they show for people beomming clean are so discuragings, I used the 12 step approach but it failed I am not powerless of any drug and not a victiom nor do I have a deasie. I got high because I wanted to because I had NO confront. I got clean in a non tradition 100% drug free rehab, and have been for over a year. I think the program give people a reason to continue using and gives them reason to relapse because it shows that there is no hope unless you substitute one drug for another, and still relapse can occure. This may just be my view point but I feel as though I am NOT alone.… Full Review »
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