Pubdate: Thu, 03 Nov 2005
Source: Somerville Journal (MA)
Copyright: 2005 Somerville Journal
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/somerville/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3621

DRUG COUNSELORS SCREEN 'HAIRKUTT'

Alcohol and drug counselors and prevention practitioners in 
Massachusetts will receive a private screening of the award-winning 
documentary, "HairKutt," on Friday, Nov. 4, at 12:30 p.m. at the 
Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. Filmmaker Curtis Elliot will 
answer questions after the screening.

The screening is co-sponsored by Somerville Cares About Prevention, a 
SAMHSA Drug-Free Communities coalition working to reduce substance 
use/abuse and addiction in residents of Somerville, and the 
Massachusetts Association of Addiction Recovery, which seeks to 
organize recovering individuals, families and friends into a 
collective voice to educate the public about the value of recovery 
from alcohol and other addictions.

The 60-minute film follows four childhood friends from St. Louis, 
Mo., who travel to the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee in the hopes of 
curing one of them from his more-than-15-year heroin addiction. It 
sheds light not only on the perils of drug addiction, specifically 
heroin, but also how its use affects the families and friends of its abusers.

"HairKutt" refers to Bryant "HairKutt" Johnson, a $100-a-day heroin abuser.

Elliott documented HairKutt's entire five-day withdrawal experience - 
from his last high to the severe vomiting and shaking that took place 
in the days immediately after stopping his use of the drug. At one 
point HairKutt became so delusional that he walked away from the 
rented cabin in Tennessee to return to the streets of St. Louis (more 
than a 10-hour drive away). HairKutt was eventually rushed to a rural 
Tennessee hospital when his vomiting episodes become life 
threatening. The story climaxes more than a year-and-a-half later 
with a tell-all truth about the fateful trip to the hospital and the 
outcome of his experience.

The handicapped-accessible Somerville Theater will screen the film 
Monday through Friday at 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. 
and 11:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 
p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets are $5; $3 for students and seniors. 
Elliott will also host free morning screenings for area schools and 
youth groups.

For more information about tickets, call the Somerville Theatre at 617-625-6600.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman