Beyond the Screen: Confronting the Opioid Crisis Through Storytelling
- May 24
- 3 min read
A post-screening interactive panel presented in partnership with CPC Integrated Health, exploring how Union County uses storytelling to spark conversation around addiction, recovery, and the ongoing impact of the opioid crisis.
This year’s programming continues one of our favorite traditions here at the Monmouth
Film Festival. In the world of cinema, we often see filmmakers pushing themselves through sensitive and heavy subject matter with their art, and the MFF likes to highlight and advocate for these issues by holding conversations and panels that pair with films and address urgent, real-world issues. Each year, we select a theme that reflects a pressing social concern, and this season, the striking subject matter emerging from Union County made it especially important to highlight the growing opioid epidemic and the challenges of recovery.
Union County, one of the most acclaimed features in the Monmouth Film Festival lineup, follows Cody Parsons (Will Poulter), a young man assigned to a county-mandated drug court program as he navigates the fragile, often nonlinear path toward recovery amid the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio.
Directed by Adam Meeks, the film draws deeply on his hometown roots, grounding the story in authenticity that captures both the quiet weight and the daily intensity of addiction and recovery. The film offers an unflinching, deeply human portrait of struggle, resilience, and the ongoing fight not just to survive, but to live fully.
Following the screening, the Monmouth Film Festival, in conjunction and in partnership with CPC, will host a panel discussion, “Beyond the Screen: Confronting the Opioid Crisis Through Storytelling”, focused on the film’s characters, performances, and the broader social realities they reflect. The conversation will explore how
storytelling can humanize individuals navigating addiction and recovery, and how film can serve as a bridge between lived experience and public understanding.
CPC Integrated Health, originally founded in 1960 in Monmouth County as New Jersey’s first children’s mental health facility, has grown into a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic dedicated to integrated, whole-person care. Built on a legacy of family-driven advocacy, CPC’s mission centers on supporting individuals and families through
mental health and substance use treatment, recovery services, and community-based care designed to promote long-term well-being and stability. Today, the organization continues to expand its impact through equitable access to treatment, trauma-informed support systems, and a commitment to meeting individuals wherever they are in their recovery journey, not only bridging gaps in care but fostering healthier, more resilient communities.
Members of our team, Kent Turner (MFF director of programming) and Shawn Dowd (MFF Education/programmer), will break down the film’s structure, character work, and cinematic choices, offering insight into how these creative elements shape audience perception and emotional response. Representatives from CPC will then join the discussion to expand the conversation beyond the screen, addressing the real-world impact of the opioid crisis, how communities are affected by its ongoing presence, and the importance of comprehensive care, treatment access, and support systems.
The panel will also examine how media representation influences public awareness, particularly when stories rooted in regions like Union County are brought to the screen and wider audiences. By connecting the film with community advocacy, the goal is to open a meaningful dialogue around both the realities of addiction and the pathways toward
recovery.
This screening and panel are part of a larger commitment to using film as a platform for awareness and change. Audiences are invited to attend the 2026 Monmouth Film Festival, engage with Union County, and take part in the conversation that follows, helping to shine a light on addiction, recovery, and the communities working every day toward healing.
Interested in joining the conversation? Use promo code CPC10 at checkout to save 10% on tickets and join the unforgettable weekend celebrating independent film, emerging storytellers, special events, workshops, panels, and more.
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