Supporting the SASSI Mission Through Story: Introducing The Addict’s Wake Film Series

As a filmmaker dedicated to exploring substance use disorder and recovery, I created The Addict’s Wake film series to deepen understanding, spark dialogue, reduce stigma, and break down the silo mentality. It’s an honor to share this work with the SASSI community, whose tools and research have helped so many professionals respond to addiction with precision and compassion.

Like SASSI’s evidence-based screening instruments, the films are designed to support professionals across treatment, education, justice, and first response systems—bringing the human stories behind the data into clear and powerful focus.

What is The Addict’s Wake Film Series?

The Addict’s Wake is a three-part documentary film series that explores the impact of substance use disorder and declining mental health from multiple angles—community, education, and first response—offering distinct tools for professionals working in treatment, prevention, and recovery support.

  1. The Feature-Length Film – The Addict’s Wake
    This award-winning documentary follows the story of Brown County, Indiana—a rural community overwhelmed by addiction—and its journey toward recovery. Through intimate interviews with individuals in active use and recovery, their families, and community leaders, the film reveals the deep-rooted effects of addiction and the resilience of those fighting back.
  2. The Educational Film
    Designed specifically for use in high schools, colleges, treatment centers, and community groups, this version featurescompletely different footage from the feature-length film. It focuses on education, prevention and the connection between mental health and addiction, offering a practical, age-appropriate resource to spark discussion and awareness among youth, families, and professionals.
  3. The Law Enforcement & First Responder Film
    Tailored for professionals on the front lines—police, EMTs, firefighters, and correctional staff—this film uses original footage to explore the toll addiction takes on public safety; while also highlighting ways law enforcement and emergency personnel can play a compassionate, constructive role in the recovery ecosystem.

How the Film Series Supports the Work of the SASSI Institute:

  1. Humanizing the Data:
    • SASSI tools uncover patterns of substance use—our films show what those patterns look like in real lives, families, and communities.
    • The personal narratives help viewers move beyond statistics to a fuller understanding of SUDs.
  2. Enhancing Training & Engagement:
    • Whether you’re training clinicians, probation officers, educators, or first responders, these films add emotional impact and real-world relevance to technical instruction.
    • When used alongside SASSI assessments, the films help professionals interpret data with greater insight and compassion.
  3. Reducing Stigma in Practice:
    • Viewers often report a shift in mindset after seeing the films, becoming more aware of the complexity and humanity behind addiction.
    • This aligns with SASSI’s mission to support treatment, not punishment, and care over judgment.
  4. Improving Communication:
    • The film series serves as an effective conversation starter with clients, families, and teams—opening the door to honest dialogue about substance use and recovery.
    • Ideal for intake sessions, classroom discussions, or community forums.
  5. Flexible Use Across Settings:
    • With tailored content for general audiences, students, and first responders, the film series can be adapted to support many of the sectors SASSI already serves—from justice systems to education and public health.

Why It Matters to SASSI Users:

By pairing SASSI’s evidence-based screening tools with The Addict’s Wake film series, professionals gain a more holistic approach to addressing substance use—one that honors both the science and the story.

To explore licensing options or learn how to integrate the films into your SASSI training, programming, or community outreach visit TheAddictsWake.com or contact Lisa at lhall@glorygirlproduction.com

by Lisa Hall

Lisa’s journey is one of lifelong learning, purposeful leadership, and heartfelt storytelling.

A graduate of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, Lisa spent much of her professional life marketing products, ideas, and initiatives, with a strong emphasis on nonprofit leadership and fundraising. After launching her children into adulthood, she returned to school and earned a Master’s degree from Moody Bible Institute in 2016.

Lisa has built deep connections in her Brown County community, where she actively supports women navigating incarceration and addiction recovery. Her passion for human dignity and healing culminated in the creation of The Addict’s Wake, a powerful documentary that seeks to dismantle the stigma of addiction and replace it with compassion, understanding, and hope.

The film premiered at the Heartland International Film Festival and went on to earn accolades at numerous festivals, including Sedona, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Vero Beach, and Hoosier Fest—winning multiple Best Documentary awards. In November 2022, PBS aired an abridged version nationwide, reaching over 92% of its stations by January 2024.

In response to overwhelming viewer interest, Lisa helped launch an educational version of the film with an extensive Learning Guide in early 2024, along with a Law Enforcement film and companion training resource for law enforcement in January of 2025. She also recently published Avie’s Hope, a book designed to comfort and empower young children living in difficult circumstances.

Lisa and her husband Richard have been married for 35 years and share a daughter, two sons, and four beloved grandchildren. In recognition of her work, she was honored with the Distinguished Hoosier Award by Governor Eric J. Holcomb and named Recovery Ally of the Year in 2022 by Recover Out Loud.