Over 200 staff and students packed into Cardonald College lecture theatre on Wednesday 8th October to see the debut screening of the new hard-hitting documentary “Junkie”.
The new film from the Hawaii Fivo team explores the experience of drug use in Glasgow by talking to the people who have been most affected. Unpacking the myths and misconceptions associated with drug users the emotive doc’ asks – What makes someones a drug addict?
Producers Jordan Robertson and Sean Toal were in attendance to introduce the compelling new film and detail their own experiences with drug addiction.
Jordan has previously spoken out in the media about his time behind bars and how there needs to be an improved mental health provision for young people serving time. Ex-gangsters leave behind criminal pasts to give back to areas they once terrorised – Daily Record
He has built up his media profile via his TikTok page which has amassed over 101 thousand followers and 1.9 million likes as seen via this link – Hawaii Fivo (@fawaii_hivo) | TikTok. For more information, you can click on this link – Hawaii Fivo Documentary: JUNKIE Full Episode | TikTok
At the question and answer session after the screening Jordan said: “The people who have the best solutions to these problems don’t work within government.”
The pair are now taking the screening around the central belt providing private viewings to a range of organisations such as education institutions.
Sean, a Recovery Development Worker and peer mentor, said during discussion with the audience afterwards that the documentary aimed to “give a voice to those who are too often silenced by stigma and misunderstanding.”
Featuring interviews with former addicts, frontline workers and family members of drug users, the film documents Glasgow’s relationship with drug use and the drug death crisis affecting the city. According to reports issued by Police Scotland, 607 individuals have died from suspected drug misuse between January and June 2025, marking an 8% rise from the same period in 2024.
The film highlighted the need to tackle this issue and work together to affect a change. As Sean said: “If we all start understanding each other and act as a collective, we can get an understanding of what addiction is and how it affects us all.”
Students from various courses such as social care, social services, health care and journalism attended the event to gather information to help with their coursework.
Assistant Principal for Health, Wellbeing and Management, Claire Glen who organised the screening said: “It’s really important that we understand the challenges in society today and the impact this can have on our students and their readiness to learn.
“We continue to offer sessions like this as part of our college-wide nurture approach, as a way of developing positive relationships and to better understanding how we can support every student.”
Robertson and Toal plan on continuing to showcase their new documentary through the country in the coming months an effort to educate others and help combat the negative stereotypes associated with drug use and users.
You can watch the trailer below.
