This year's more than fitting ending to dry january: 'Voorbij de schaamte' on VRT Canvas

In 'Voorbij de schaamte' Katrien De Ruysscher takes a closer look at alcohol and all its personal and societal effects, 'beyond all shame'. Following this year's dry january, a symbolic example of how alcohol and its use seems to be on the top of everyone's mind these days, the taboo on alcohol addiction still remains omnipresent. This resonates enormously with Katrien because of her own personal history, as her dad passed away from the consequences of such an addiction when he was only 45 years old. For years, she experienced shame and a lack of understanding about the cause of his death. When Katrien reached the same age her father was when he died, she began reflecting on the role of alcohol in her own life and in our society.

Enter this docuseries, in which Katrien speaks candidly with people who have struggled with alcohol addiction for a long time. She meets five individuals of varying ages, from their twenties to their seventies, all of whom have stopped drinking. Some made this decision long ago, while others are newly in recovery or still grappling with it. How did they overcome their addiction? What role did their environment play? And how do they cope with a society where alcohol is literally everywhere? Katrien also speaks with experts to find answers to her questions. For instance, does something like an addiction gene exist? And is alcohol really such a harmful substance? Through these conversations, she seeks to gain a different perspective on her father and on all those struggling with addiction—a perspective 'beyond all shame.'

"I hesitated for a long time to talk openly about a difficult and vulnerable chapter from my youth: losing my father to alcohol addiction. When I reached the same age my father was when he passed away and I also stopped drinking alcohol myself, I realized how important it is to make this topic discussable.

We live in a society that often looks the other way and takes little responsibility, making it even harder for people with alcohol addiction to quit. The impact of addiction on those around them is immense and brings with it a lot of pain, shame, and grief.

My father's story has ultimately also become the story of the brave individuals who found the courage to speak about what is undoubtedly the hardest battle of their lives. Thanks to them, I’ve come to see my father in a different light, which now perhaps makes me miss him even more than ever before."
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- Katrien De Ruysscher

The witnesses brave enough to give us a look behind their scenes, were chosen to reflect the many different faces of alcohol addiction. From a twenty-something who basically had to defy too much odds growing up in a family where alcohol abuse was everywhere, to a person to whom almost everyone can relate: with the creeping use of alcohol imbedded in their day to day lives until it was nothing less than problematic. Or the former teacher, who had a medical wake-up call and is now almost 20 years completely sober, or yet another example of abuse being handed down over generations. Their testimonials were key and of huge importance to the making of this documentary series.

These testimonials are paired with the insights of some key experts in the field of alcohol addiction. Professor Geert Dom, an authority in addiction care and an often sought-out voice when it comes to how we should handle alcohol as a society. Dr. Eva Debusscher, who as a psychiatrist and systemic therapist, guides individuals through long-term treatment and continues to support them afterwards. She's also known to look more than critically at alcohol-related policies. And Myriam Bruyninckx, an expert by experience. Since 2013, she runs her own practice where she supports people working to address their substance abuse ànd their family members or friends.

Throughout the whole series, Katrien tries to get a grip on the ever present role of shame in all of these stories and experiences. The shame we feel for people suffering with an alcohol addiction, or the all-consuming shame those people often feel themselves. Yet the question rises if this shame is felt in the right places. Because maybe we should reflect as a society if it is even normal to sell alcohol next to highways, or for it to be easily available at almost every party or event. And furthermore, impossible to escape from: with commercials everywhere, vending points on basically every street corner and very little critical thinking as to what would be a normal approach for a substance that still remains a drug...

'Voorbij de schaamte' from the 5th of February 2025 on VRT Canvas and VRT Max.