11 TV Shows on Addiction

Want to Watch a Show About Addiction? Here’s Who Gets It Right

In the past, sitcoms and other fictionalized content dominated television ratings. Each week, viewers tuned in to watch the development of their favorite characters, hanging on to story arcs and exploration of various themes.

Thanks to digital TV subscription apps, eager viewers can easily digest an entire season of any show in a single day. But the latest craze has brought new meaning to the term “binging out,” as viewers can’t get enough TV shows on addiction.

However, the explosion of reality TV ushered in a changing of the guard, with viewers showing far more interest in following real people in real environments, shifting from the fictional characters that dominated the airwaves for decades. Some of the most popular television shows across all platforms include a varying collection of shows with substance abuse as the primary antagonist.

To be fair, there are still plenty of fictionalized dramas centered around drug and alcohol use—many of them just as popular as reality TV shows that follow those suffering from substance abuse on their recovery journey.

Whether your guilty pleasure is dramatized drug abuse fiction that portrays real-life situations, or reality TV with film crews following a drug addict or a victim of mental illness, these are the top 11 shows that cover every facet of the substance abuse genre that accurately depict the tragedy of drug and alcohol addiction.

11. Recovery Road (2016)

Rounding out the list is a show called “Recovery Road” that only lasted a single season, but was pretty accurate in portraying addiction and the life that comes with it. Recovery Road follows Maddie, a closet, high-functioning young woman with a substance use disorder she’s able to manage (for a short time).

Based on the 2011 novel of the same name, the show follows Maddie as her drug use spirals out of control, leaving her faced with a critical choice: Enter a sober living facility or deal with being expelled from school.

The short-lived TV series does an excellent job of showcasing addiction recovery through the eyes of a teenager, demonstrating that recovery is a process that requires conviction and willpower. It’s a shocking, yet delicate portrayal of kids growing up dealing with substance use, highlighting the nuances of addiction recovery.

10. Nurse Jackie (2009-2015)

Nurse Jackie follows New York City hospital nurse Jackie Peyton, a Showtime hit that endured 7 seasons of sharp humor with a tragic backdrop of hidden addiction and self-worth struggles. The emergency department nurse, dedicated to her job 110%, lives to help her patients and masks her flaws by constantly lashing out at her coworkers regarding their real-life challenges and shortcomings.

All the while, Jackie, played by Sopranos actress Edie Falco, survives off a daily cocktail of Xanax, Vicodin, and Oxycodone.

This television series portrays one of the more particularly severe substance use disorders, as her crazy days are filled with visits to her collection of pills every several hours to stave off the pain of withdrawal and maintain her standing as a passionate healthcare worker.

9. Celebrity Rehab (2008-2012)

Not many television shows about drug and alcohol addiction brought us the drama of the reality series Celebrity Rehab.

For six seasons, this TV show gave us an intricate look at Dr. Drew Penski and his multitude of celebrity clients—many of them now average people struggling with their fall from grace and seeking recovery from things like drug and alcohol addiction, sex obsessions, and a variety of other mental health challenges.

The show, often displaying ridiculously dramatic scenes and behind-the-scenes fighting, gave an otherwise tragic look inside the world of addiction and recovery for celebrities. Oddly enough, there are rumors of a “Celebrity Rehab Curse,”, as 12 past participants are now deceased.

8. Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

No TV show about addiction and recovery (more addiction, less recovery) has gotten more rave reviews and fan attention than Breaking Bad. The TV show has since become a pop culture hit across the globe, even spawning a full-length film that takes place after the final season.

This TV show follows the main character Walter White and his family members as he comes to grips with a terminal cancer diagnosis and the fact that his wife and kids could potentially be left destitute upon his untimely passing, considering his meager salary as a high school chemistry teacher.

Befriending troubled student and small-time meth dealer Jessie Pinkerton, Walter adopts the persona of Heisenberg, becoming one of the most significant suppliers in the country thanks to his super-potent blue methamphetamine called blue magic.

Compared to other TV shows in the genre, this one is highly fantasized, although it does depict many accurate elements of the international methamphetamine trade.

7. Skins (2007-2013)

Skins was an unconventional show about teenage addiction, with the main characters rotating every 2 seasons to be replaced by a fresh crop of South West England adolescents craving freedom and a change of consciousness.

Underneath it all, the show does an excellent job of highlighting trauma and past experiences that shift part-time dabbling into full-blown addiction, examining the largely untouched subject of the impact of mental health on the development of a chemical substance dependency.

The primary focus of the show highlights the issue of a lack of proper care for the characters and friends with co-occurring disorders, introducing the audience to the real challenge of finding quality mental health care to maintain recovery and avoid the cycle of relapse.

6. Moms (2013-2021)

Although most wouldn’t technically consider this a TV show about addiction, this comedy about a young girl struggling with alcohol who reconnects with her likewise addicted mother has strong undertones regarding recovery, addiction, and the role it plays in the life of the main character.

The Emmy-award-winning show tackles episodes dealing with Alcoholics Anonymous, the road to recovery, alcohol withdrawal, and relapse.

Even though the show is primarily rooted in comedy, it gives viewers a real look into the havoc alcohol can play, and how decisions regarding addiction can impact the trajectory of life. More importantly, it speaks to the importance of family as a strong support system.

5. The Cleaner (2008-2009)

This show lasted only one year but takes an interesting approach to the world of addiction. The main character, William Blank (played by Benjamin Bratt), is a former heroin addict who overcomes his addiction after years of struggle, making a personal pact with God to save as many people as he can from the same lifestyle by any means necessary.

To throw a wrench in the spokes, his means of operation are somewhat violent, making him a target for the local police department.

4. Shameless (2011-2021)

One of the longest-running shows on the list, Shameless spanned an impressive 11 seasons on Showtime. William H. Macy portrays Frank Gallagher, a single father with a raging addiction to alcohol struggling to raise 6 children in Chicago.

Well, technically, he doesn’t put much effort into the “raising” portion, as his oldest daughter does most of the work to support the family while Frank is out chasing women and binge drinking. The critically acclaimed show depicts the life of an underprivileged family with a father ravaged by addiction, attempting to succeed in a life that places them behind the proverbial eight-ball.

3. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

BoJack Horseman isn’t your traditional show about addiction—or even your traditional show in any context. This adult-animated series follows actor Will Arnett who plays a washed-up child actor dealing with the trauma of his adolescent years in Hollywood.

The series focuses on nearly every taboo topic one could imagine, from childhood sexual assault to alcohol, pill-popping, and everything in between. It might not be created in the same format you’re used to, but certainly worth a watch if you’re intrigued by shows about addiction.

2. Euphoria (2019-Present)

Euphoria follows a 17-year-old girl named Rue, a drug-addicted teenager who recently lost her father and deals with the weight of an obvious trauma (no spoiler), and breaks under the pressure, falling into a life of drug abuse.

The show deals with topics like self-worth, addiction, rehab, relapse, and how your adolescent years are shaped by your experiences, friends, and the choices you make along the way to help numb the sting of life.

1. Intervention (2005-Present)

Arguably the undisputed champion of TV series about addiction, Intervention features two individuals in each episode who struggle with some form of addiction and face a staged intervention by crisis counselors and family members.

Although most episodes follow the traditional form of addiction such as opioid abuse, alcoholism, fentanyl misuse, and methamphetamine abuse, Intervention also features somewhat odd habits such as one episode centered around a teenage girl who eats laundry detergent. Still going strong since 2005, Intervention was a runaway hit and remains a favorite among fans

Getting Help for Yourself or a Loved One at Icarus

While these TV shows can provide a crash course in addiction, those who are living with substance use disorder in real life often require physical resources and support to find lasting recovery.

If you or a loved one are facing down alcohol or drug abuse, don’t go it alone. Reach out our caring team at Icarus Behavioral Health now and get proven options for recovery support today!