The Roseanne revival of the hit television sitcom has been trying to find relatable topics to discuss on their show. One recent episode was about the opioid crisis and how expensive health insurance can be when you are in real need of it. The Roseanne episode “Netflix and Pill” is about one of the members of the Conner family hiding their opioid addiction from the family, providing that this is a real ongoing situation that needs attention.

How The Plot Deals with Addiction

In the episode “Netflix and Pill,” it begins with the matriarch of the family, Roseanne Conner, who complains about how painful her knee is. She tells everyone that someone has been taking her pills as the bottle is half empty. Her sister, Jackie, is a police officer, so she decides to investigate and mentions to everyone that we have a severe opioid problem in the country. Everyone in the house seems to be innocent. Roseanne complains that she cannot get another refill for another two weeks, so her husband, Dan, orders and gives her his pain medication for his back to hold her over.   

On Roseanne and Dan’s wedding anniversary over a bottle of wine, Roseanne admits that she lied about the pills going missing and that she has been holding extra Vicodin as well as three bottles of prescription medications that have been hidden all over the house. Roseanne has also managed to get leftover pills from the people in her area. Because the Conners need $3,000 for Roseanne’s knee surgery, Roseanne has felt the need to take more pills since it will be a while before they can afford the surgery. However, Roseanne adds that she is not a drug addict.

Why Roseanne’s Struggle with Addiction is Important

Because of the Conners’ financial situation, Roseanne feels the need to cope with as many opioids as possible. She is in denial of her addiction. Dan tells her, “You’re taking [this medication] for more than pain.” Roseanne tells Dan that she will cut back. When he goes to take a walk, she reveals in her ice bag another hidden bag of prescription pills. This revelation shows that Roseanne’s opioid addiction is far from over. We have seen Roseanne making excuses for why she needs more pills. She also uses deceit as a way to acquire them. It is essential for entertainment to tackle issues like these to stress the importance of fixing the opioid epidemic.

Bayview Recovery

Sadly, addiction is not just a fictional issue. According to SAMHSA, over 164 million people in the United States used drugs or alcohol within the last month of the survey in 2018. If you are one of the millions affected by addiction, don’t wait. Contact Bayview Recovery today, and get treatment for your addiction.

When you come to our Tacoma, Washington facility, you will learn that your recovery is our goal. Our mission is to offer clinically-driven programs and services to treat many substance abuse disorders. We also can address your anxiety and depression. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, yoga therapy, and more, we encourage and walk with you. A successful recovery is possible for you. For more information, please call us at 855.478.3650. We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.