The Hellgramite Method

"The Hellgramite Method" is episode seven of the third season of "The New Twilight Zone".

Plot summary

Timothy Bottoms plays an alcoholic who fights his addiction with a miracle pill. Unfortunately the pill contains a Hellgrammite tapeworm. The tapeworm absorbs all traces of alcohol in a person, thus rendering them sober no matter how much they drink; but since it feeds on alcohol it will grow larger in his stomach and kill him if he continues to drink. The only solution is to starve the tapeworm, but to do so invites painful withdrawal. If he can endure the withdrawal pains the tapeworm will eventually be forced into a hibernation state, thus giving a measure of freedom to the host.