Better films with similar subject matter

I enjoyed it. I wouldn't go so far as saying this was a classic but it is a pretty good movie. Some of the acting was sub-par, some of the acting was good, mostly from the leads (Arquette, Young, Leigh and Lang) and it was too melodramatic at some points, like Lifetime levels but it was an interesting little movie.

Check out the far superior Requiem for a Dream if you're interested in Selby (the book is great too even though it's a tough read) or the director's much grittier Christiane F (probably the most horrifying drug addict film I've ever seen).