Watch High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell

High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell is a gritty documentary that takes an unflinching look at the lives of individuals caught in the grip of addiction to crack cocaine in the once-thriving mill town of Lowell, Massachusetts. Directed by Richard Farrell and produced by Jon Alpert and Maryann DeLeo, the film follows the lives of three habituated individuals over the course of three years, painting a vivid picture of the challenges of addiction, poverty, and social stigma.

At the center of the documentary is Dicky Eklund, a former boxer who gained brief fame in the late 1970s for his role in a nationally televised fight against Sugar Ray Leonard. However, by the time of the film's production, Eklund had fallen on hard times, struggling with addiction to crack cocaine and facing multiple arrests for drug-related offenses. Eklund's story is interwoven with that of two other individuals: Brenda, a young mother who relies on prostitution to support her habit, and Boo Boo, a man caught in a cycle of addiction and homelessness.

The film takes its title from the notorious "crack street" neighborhood in Lowell where much of the action takes place. Through a series of interviews with the three individuals and the people in their lives, the filmmakers provide an intimate portrait of the daily struggles of addiction, from the desperation to obtain drugs to the physical and psychological toll of regular use. At the same time, the film highlights the larger societal issues that contribute to the problem, such as poverty, lack of affordable healthcare, and criminalization of drug use.

Central to the film are the relationships between the three characters and those around them. Eklund's story is particularly poignant, as he grapples not only with his addiction but with the weight of public opinion and familial expectations. The film offers insights into the role of celebrity culture in both bolstering and contributing to his downfall, as well as the complex dynamics of addiction within a family system.

Similarly, Brenda's story offers a nuanced portrayal of the reasons individuals may turn to prostitution to support a drug habit, as well as the challenges of motherhood in the context of addiction. Boo Boo's story is one of isolation and hopelessness, as he struggles to find stability and support while cycling through cycles of detox and relapse.

Throughout the film, the camera lingers on the physical landscapes of Lowell, from the blighted buildings of Crack Street to the cold brick facades of the city's once-thriving mills. This juxtaposition between the decaying industrial landscape and the human struggles it contains lends the film an eerie quality, highlighting the ways in which larger structural forces contribute to individual hardship.

High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell is not an easy film to watch, and its unflinching portrayal of addiction may be triggering for some viewers. However, it also offers a nuanced and compassionate look at a complex issue, highlighting the humanity of those caught in the grip of addiction and the need for meaningful solutions that address both the personal and systemic factors contributing to the problem. Ultimately, the film stands as a powerful indictment of a society that criminalizes addiction rather than offering meaningful support to those struggling with it.