TV REVIEW : Going ‘Beyond Addictions’

“Beyond Addictions,” a USA Network (cable) special airing tonight at 8, is a sincere attempt to reach those most at risk from substance abuse--teens--by using the voices of their peers.

No experts, doctors, politicians or statisticians are heard from.

Instead, young people working against drug use, and teen addicts--from comfortable economic backgrounds--speak from experience.

Part of USA’s teen magazine “Youthquake” series created by Jennifer Spears, the program takes a sometimes irritating herky-jerky MTV-like approach, with a rock beat and fuzzy camera techniques. But brief interviews with anti-drug celebrities--among them, Vanilla Ice, Paula Abdul, New Kids on the Block, Run DMC and Fresh Prince--make an impression, as does the anguish of teen users trying to recover their lives.

It’s an eye-opener to see kid-next-door types, boys and girls, recite grocery lists of drugs they’ve used, some as early as 8 years old: pot, heroin, opium, crack, prescription drugs and more.

Spears offers brief profiles of rehabilitation programs around the country including Straight, Alateen, New York’s Covenant House and others. Negatives are avoided--no one speaks out against a particular program, nor is mention made of Covenant House founder Father Bruce Ritter’s resignation after charges of sexual misconduct.