What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDope Sick
Walter Dean Myers · Book · 2009
If you loved Dope Sick, start with Dopesick (Danny Strong, 2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 1 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Dope Sick across media.
If Dope Sick gripped you, it is because you are drawn to raw narratives exploring the devastating consequences of addiction.
Films on the same thread
Winter's Bone
Debra Granik · Film · 2010
Explores: Poverty, Family Loyalty, Female Protagonist.
Like Dope Sick, this film captures the desperate struggle for survival within a harsh, unforgiving environment, forcing protagonists to confront dangerous underworlds to protect their fragile family bonds.
American History X
Tony Kaye · Film · 1998
Shares 2 threads with Dope Sick: Redemption, Violence.
Mirroring the search for redemption found in Dope Sick, this story examines the difficult path of escaping a cycle of violence and the burden of past moral failures.
Requiem for a Dream
Darren Aronofsky · Film · 2000
Shares a thread with Dope Sick: Drug Addiction.
This film shares the unflinching look at drug addiction presented in Dope Sick, focusing on the tragic, rapid descent of individuals when their lives are consumed by chemical dependency.
The Basketball Diaries
Film · 1995
Shares 2 threads with Dope Sick: Drug addiction, Redemption.
Much like Dope Sick, this narrative tracks the heartbreaking loss of innocence that occurs when a young person falls into the harrowing and inescapable world of drug addiction.
Series on the same thread
Dopesick
Danny Strong · Series · 2021
Explores: Opioid Addiction, Corporate Greed, Pharmaceutical Industry.
Sharing the title and central subject of Dope Sick, this series expands the scope to investigate the systemic corruption and corporate greed that fueled a massive national drug epidemic.
Podcasts on the same thread
Sick to Death
Podcast
Explores: Medical Malpractice, Whistleblower, Hospital Negligence.
This investigative work echoes the sense of accountability and moral outrage present in Dope Sick, exposing how institutional negligence leads to life-altering consequences for vulnerable people and their families.
The Shrink Next Door
Audible | Bloomberg · Podcast · 2026
Similar to the way Dope Sick explores the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, this podcast uncovers the dark reality of a predatory figure abusing his position of trust and power.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Dope Sick written by Walter Dean Myers?
Yes, Dope Sick is written by Walter Dean Myers. He is a two-time Newbery Honor winner and a five-time Coretta Scott King Award winner who published this novel in 2009.
What is the plot of Dope Sick about?
Dope Sick follows a character named Lil J who is on the run after a drug deal goes south and a police officer is shot. As he hides, he begins to experience the physical symptoms of withdrawal.
Are there other books similar to Dope Sick?
Dope Sick is often recommended alongside other young adult novels that address intense social themes. Readers who enjoy this book are encouraged to explore Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and Dear Martin by Nic Stone.
Does Dope Sick deal with themes of redemption?
Yes, Dope Sick is a novel that explores themes of drugs and violence while focusing on the possibility of second chances. The story follows Lil J as he reflects on his situation and the choices that led him to his current circumstances.