An interview with HIGHER writer Mark Levine
We connected with Mark Levine, writer of HIGHER, who started in the nonprofit treatment and recovery world before going into private practice – about how he has seen how the stigma surrounding addiction has hurt people and become a barrier to their getting the treatment they so desperately need.
Mark, what was the inspiration to create a Rock Musical about addiction and stigma?
Mark: Unless you’ve been living under a rock you understand how addiction has ravaged our community.
It’s not just one demographic group that’s been affected. White, Black, rich, poor, Republican, Democrat, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, atheist — addiction is an equal opportunity offender.
Opioids, alcohol, meth, marijuana. Everyone knows someone who has personally been affected or knows a family or co-worker who has been affected—whether you realize it or not.
You’ve said that a major purpose of HIGHER is to help reduce the stigma around addiction. Why is that such an important mission for you and the collaborators you’ve worked with on HIGHER?
Mark: Stigma isn’t just a word we throw around. Stigma prevents people from getting treatment. Stigma affects employment, housing, medical care and on and on. It’s not an exaggeration to say stigma kills.
Why is a Rock Musical the ideal vehicle for sharing this message?
Mark: Because “any addiction rallies going on Saturday night?”—said No One Ever.
Too often stigma reducing events end up preaching to the choir or a very small segment of the population. But music speaks to everyone.
People don’t want to be lectured no matter how important the topic. But people do enjoy being entertained! And HIGHER does just that. The universal response from the talk back sessions in 2021 was that people loved the music.
So come for the music. Come for the theatre.
You’ll leave humming the music, singing the words, and changing the way you view addiction.
