The series “Adikts” will be available on Netflix starting June 19.
In January, Czech Television introduced a six-episode series about substance addiction. It depicts five students of addictology who, as part of a responsible approach to their studies, decide to experiment with drugs that could temporarily solve each of their problems. However, the effects of the drugs become permanent for all of them.
The director of “Adikts” is Adam Sedlák, who also directed the popular film “Banger”. In collaboration with the Czech Association of Insurers and the Czech Police, the series became part of a preventive anti-drug campaign called “Skratky,” which was created in response to a dramatic increase in drug users and societal attitudes.
“More than forty percent of Czechs over the age of 15 admit to having tried an illegal drug at least once in their lives, and nearly a third of the Czech population approves of recreational use of addictive substances,” stated the Czech Association of Insurers in a press release. Despite much feedback, the institute focused on treating drug addictions has distanced itself from the series. SANANIM is a non-governmental non-profit organization that has been active in the field of drug addiction for over thirty years. They believe that the way the series is presented is quite inappropriate.
According to the institute, it is not possible to respond to the series professionally because it has nothing to do with addictology, and presenting it as part of a preventive campaign is misguided. The series has also received mixed reactions from viewers.
