Facing It: My Friend's an Alcoholic

Year Published: 1984

Creator: Churchill Films

Description: This vintage alcoholism awareness film "Facing It: My Friend's an Alcoholic" was created for high school students. It shows the struggles of addiction using the narrative of a 17-year-old named Terry played by musician and actor, Dean Cameron. “Facing It” focuses on the attempts of friends to intervene and help support their alcoholic peer.  It features Terry, AJ and Terry's girlfriends Kelly as the main characters, all students of Hollywood High School. AJ initially covers for Terry and his rapidly destabilizing behavior. He later decides to seek support with Kelly to help their suffering friend. It features themes of friendship, responsibility and the struggles of addiction. The narrative covers a series of interactions over Terry's drinking ultimately leading to a drunken episode at the Spring Dance calling the attention of police. The opening section looks at Terry's attempt to cover his alcoholism and the strain it begins to put on his relationships. Terry and his girlfriend argue at a carnival over his behavior and when he and his friend's band get an invite to play for the upcoming Spring Dance, Terry misses every rehearsal. It continues to show potential routes peers might take in order to help a friend struggling with addiction. The film was directed by William "Bill" Haugse and also stars Michelle DeBriere and Brian Sheehan. 00:00 It is a Churchill Film presentation (:17). An amusement park -- possibly the Santa Monica Pier. Terry and Kelly drive around the bumper car lanes, the title screen follows (:35). Terry gets into an argument (1:29). He is visibly intoxicated as he steps from the bumper car ride (1:59). After the couple argue, Terry and AJ leave. Terry swigs from a flask while driving (4:16). Terry's driving is inhibited and they nearly get into a number of accidents (4:41). AJ gets the exciting news over the opportunity for their band to perform for the Spring Dance via letter (5:55). AJ and Ken discuss concerns over Terry's behavior and his recent absenteeism from band rehearsals (6:16). AJ agrees to confront Terry (6:43). At a local restaurant, AJ and Kelly discuss Terry’s behavior (8:02) and potential causes behind it. Terry takes his mother’s car to a Texaco service station AJ works at (9:42). He confides in AJ (10:29) over hitting his mother's car while intoxicated. AJ confronts his friend over his excessive drinking and smoking (11:31). Terry exhibits signs of denial (11:55) believing he can control his drinking. Terry bargains AJ agreeing to a month of sobriety (12:43). Terry begins to substitute with marijuana (14:20). Kelly relays concerns of anonymous friend’s drinking problem to a trusted teacher (14:49). The teacher discusses the process of intervention (15:08). After Terry is absent from another rehearsal (15:54), his bandmates consider dropping him from the band. Kelly takes a call on her rotary house line (18:29) from AJ over Terry. They meet at a local pizzeria (18:46), Kelly stresses they have to stop enabling their friend’s drinking. Terry attempts to force AJ to help cover for him (19:57). When AJ denies, Terry admits to having a problem (20:50). The band jams for the Spring Dance or prom (22:05). Terry enters intoxicated (22:46) and stumbles off the stage. An authority figure informs Kelly the police have been contacted (23:54). AJ and Kelly enlist the support of a trusted teacher (24:44). Credits conclude the film (25:07).

Complete Record: This vintage alcoholism awareness film "Facing It: My Friend's an Alcoholic" was created for high school students. It shows the struggles of addiction using the narrative of a 17-year-old named Terry played by musician and actor, Dean Cameron. “Facing It” focuses on the attempts of friends to intervene and help support their alcoholic peer.  It features Terry, AJ and Terry's girlfriends Kelly as the main characters, all students of Hollywood High School. AJ initially covers for Terry and his rapidly destabilizing behavior. He later decides to seek support with Kelly to help their suffering friend. It features themes of friendship, responsibility and the struggles of addiction. The narrative covers a series of interactions over Terry's drinking ultimately leading to a drunken episode at the Spring Dance calling the attention of police. The opening section looks at Terry's attempt to cover his alcoholism and the strain it begins to put on his relationships. Terry and his girlfriend argue at a carnival over his behavior and when he and his friend's band get an invite to play for the upcoming Spring Dance, Terry misses every rehearsal. It continues to show potential routes peers might take in order to help a friend struggling with addiction. The film was directed by William "Bill" Haugse and also stars Michelle DeBriere and Brian Sheehan. 00:00 It is a Churchill Film presentation (:17). An amusement park -- possibly the Santa Monica Pier. Terry and Kelly drive around the bumper car lanes, the title screen follows (:35). Terry gets into an argument (1:29). He is visibly intoxicated as he steps from the bumper car ride (1:59). After the couple argue, Terry and AJ leave. Terry swigs from a flask while driving (4:16). Terry's driving is inhibited and they nearly get into a number of accidents (4:41). AJ gets the exciting news over the opportunity for their band to perform for the Spring Dance via letter (5:55). AJ and Ken discuss concerns over Terry's behavior and his recent absenteeism from band rehearsals (6:16). AJ agrees to confront Terry (6:43). At a local restaurant, AJ and Kelly discuss Terry’s behavior (8:02) and potential causes behind it. Terry takes his mother’s car to a Texaco service station AJ works at (9:42). He confides in AJ (10:29) over hitting his mother's car while intoxicated. AJ confronts his friend over his excessive drinking and smoking (11:31). Terry exhibits signs of denial (11:55) believing he can control his drinking. Terry bargains AJ agreeing to a month of sobriety (12:43). Terry begins to substitute with marijuana (14:20). Kelly relays concerns of anonymous friend’s drinking problem to a trusted teacher (14:49). The teacher discusses the process of intervention (15:08). After Terry is absent from another rehearsal (15:54), his bandmates consider dropping him from the band. Kelly takes a call on her rotary house line (18:29) from AJ over Terry. They meet at a local pizzeria (18:46), Kelly stresses they have to stop enabling their friend’s drinking. Terry attempts to force AJ to help cover for him (19:57). When AJ denies, Terry admits to having a problem (20:50). The band jams for the Spring Dance or prom (22:05). Terry enters intoxicated (22:46) and stumbles off the stage. An authority figure informs Kelly the police have been contacted (23:54). AJ and Kelly enlist the support of a trusted teacher (24:44). Credits conclude the film (25:07).