Drug Rehab Motion Picture Motivation: The Man with the Golden Arm

For those that struggle with an addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or any other compulsion, motivation to get clean can come in many forms—and seeing a movie that can be relatable to an addict’s life can be the right motivation to kick-start a successful recovery. Though some people think that movies can often be a bit fabricated, their messages can be very powerful and convincing. The movie The Man with the Golden Arm starring Frank Sinatra is a drama film that can be potentially moving for those who struggle with substance abuse. Here’s a quick synopsis of the movie:

The Man with the Golden Arm tells the story of a heroin addict who gets clean while in prison, but struggles to stay that way in the outside world. It stars Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Parker, Kim Novak, Arnold Stang and Darren McGavin. Throughout the film Frankie Machine (Sinatra) deals with drug abuse, drug dealing, lies, death, murder, and deceit. The film was controversial for its time; the Motion Picture Association of America refused to certify the film because it showed drug addiction. The gritty black-and-white film uniquely portrayed heroin as a serious literary topic as it rejected the standard “dope fiend” approach of the time. It was the first of its kind to tackle the marginalized issue of illicit drug use.

There are a few lessons that can be learned after watching a movie like The Man with the Golden Arm —most importantly being the dangers of abusing a drug like heroin and how the abuse can change your life for the worse. It’s unfortunately common for people to fall into drug addiction, especially in heavily populated areas like New York (NY) and New Jersey (NJ), where the stresses in life and access to bars, alcohol, and drugs is elevated. But in order to recover, it’s extremely important to first become conscious of your problem, and then find that burning motivation to change your ways. It can be very difficult for a drug addict to accomplish these things on their own, so that’s where Seabrook House can help. Seabrook House is an internationally recognized inpatient drug rehab and alcoholism detox treatment center with rehab facilities located in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient office in New York (NY). At Seabrook House, we are committed to providing quality addiction treatment for the physical, emotional and spiritual illness of chemical dependency. Our structured, nurturing programs, along with the principles grounded in the Twelve Step philosophy of recovery, combine to foster the kind of change necessary for a clean and sober life. If a film like The Man with the Golden Arm motivates you to change, then the professional treatment team at Seabrook House can help you get on the road to recovery!