Eric and Stuart, teenage boys, and Izzie, a girl, are stopped by police in a routine check, and the police find alcohol and other drugs in their car. The film follows their subsequent stories. Izzie is ordered by the court to participate in information groups at school, and in the course of the program she gains insight and terminates her misuse of drugs and alcohol. Eric, on the other hand, attends the same sessions but relapses. The intervention increases to the extent of additional assessment, professional counseling, and more intensive awareness sessions. As a result, he stops misusing drugs and alcohol. Stuart is chemically dependent and fails repeatedly even after the more extensive intervention that Eric received. The film portrays Stuart's family and friends rehearsing a structured group intervention designed to show Stuart that concerned family and friends feel strongly about his taking the steps required to end his drug abuse. In the closing scene, Stuart walks in to face the group. (Publisher abstract modified)