Nowadays, we live in a world where mental health has become increasingly important, and we find ourselves constantly trying to raise awareness about the consequences of addiction and how consuming these mental illnesses can be. From commercials about drug prevention to counseling sessions in schools and college campuses, the goal of many mental health professionals and teachers nowadays is trying to prevent substance-abuse disorders in young people. However, pop culture does not seem to be helping their cause: from songs and music videos portraying drug and alcohol abuse as socially acceptable to TV series showing people who constantly do drugs or drink alcohol indiscriminately, alcoholism and drug addiction have become a topic that people do not take seriously enough.
Thankfully, Freeform stepped up and gave us "Recovery Road," a TV adaptation of the 2011 young adult novel of the same name authored by Blake Nelson. In the show, we follow the story of 17-year old Maddie Graham, a high school junior who is pushed into rehab by her school counselor after they find a bottle of vodka in her locker. She moves to Springtime Meadows, an inpatient rehabilitation facility where she has to stay for 90 days to avoid expulsion. And like many addicts, Maddie is not happy about this at all.
What I find absolutely beautiful about "Recovery Road" is that it reminds people of something some of them seem to have forgotten: addicts are humans too. They feel, they get hurt, they make mistakes, and they also try to amend them. Maddie is just like every other teenager: she gets good grades, has friends, and loves giving attitude to people who annoy her. Her sassy comebacks are actually one of the best parts of the show since they add a little humor to the grim reality that she finds herself in along with all the other residents of Springtime Meadows, who tend to find themselves trying to save her from getting into trouble.
"Recovery Road" gives its audience an inside look into the reality of what being an addict or having a family member who is an addict is like. By showing us the struggle that Maddie goes through when she is at her boyfriend's birthday party surrounded by alcohol and drugs, or the pain that Maddie's mom goes through by having her only daughter in rehab and going to Al-Anon meetings – support meetings for the family members of recovering addicts – this show truly portrays the pain that addiction causes and the strength that is needed to overcome it.
But most of all, "Recovery Road" shows the importance of having people who love you and who support you through this endeavor, and that is absolutely beautiful. Residents like Wes – keep an eye out for this beautiful man – and Vern who try to keep Maddie grounded even though they have their own problems, to Maddie's roommate, Trish, who is always ready to cheer her up, and many others as well are part of the support system that Maddie has. And not only are the residents a huge part of Maddie's recovery, but also her mom and her school counselor, Miss Cynthia Molina, who is also a recovering addict and Maddie's sponsor. And how could we forget Craig, the counselor in Springtime Meadows who is absolutely key in Maddie's recovery by giving her advice and basically being like a father to her during her time there.
The truth is that I could go on forever on why "Recovery Road" is the most important show in television right now and still not be able to give you all of the reasons why this show is so amazing and so necessary to our generation. What I can tell you is that in my opinion, the reality check that "Recovery Road" gives its audience about addiction and the portrayal of the struggle that each and every single resident of Springtime Meadows goes through has not only touched my heart, but the heart of many people out there who have been moved by their struggle and their strength. "Recovery Road" has brought awareness to many people about the painful and grim reality of addicts everywhere, and has humanized them in a way that I had never experienced before; even I must admit that I've cried a couple of times – more like during every episode – due to the emotional rawness that characterizes this show.
What I'm trying to say is that "Recovery Road" is the show this generation needed: it is the perfect combination of drama and humor, of reality and fiction, of pain and joy, and of struggle and strength. Each character has their own backstory filled with all of these elements, making them each a world within themselves, making you love them even more. The way in which Maddie and all the other characters evolve throughout the show is truly impressive, and it can be witnessed through tear-jerking, nerve-wrecking, and emotionally-wrecking episodes. To me, "Recovery Road" is the perfect portrayal of the pain that addiction brings to people, and also a beautiful reminder that addicts are people too and should be treated as such, which is why this is, in my opinion, the best show out there.
