The 6 May 1916 Motion Picture News announced the upcoming production by its working title, Dope Fiend, starring Fay Tincher, Tully Marshall, Max Davidson, Fred J. Butler, and scenarist Chester Withey, to be directed by Eddie Dillon at Fine Arts Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Two weeks later, the 20 May 1916 Motography noted that Withey had been promoted to director, and Tincher had been replaced by Norma Talmadge. Tully Marshall was the only member of the original cast to continue with the production. The close of principal photography was reported in the 10 Jun 1916 Motion Picture News, after which the film was screened for Norma Talmadge prior to her departure for New York City. While the 24 Jun 1916 Motography stated that the film had been renamed Drugged Hopes, that day’s Motion Picture News announced the official title as The Devil’s Needle.
       The 22 Jul 1916 Moving Picture World reported that the scheduled 16 Jul 1916 release date was reserved for another Fine Arts production, The Little School Ma’am (1916, see entry). The Devil’s Needle was released four weeks later on 13 Aug 1916. Although reviews in the 5 Aug 1916 editions of Motion Picture News, Moving Picture World, and Motography approved the film’s portrayal of opiate addiction, the 28 Jul 1916 Var dismissed the story as “commonplace” and mocked the scenarists’ assertion that addiction could be cured with intensive farm labor. The 4 Nov 1916 Moving Picture World reported the film’s passage by the Philadelphia, PA, censor board, even though it offended several members. A reissue was scheduled for 21 Oct 1917, according to the 29 Sep 1917 Moving Picture World.
       A short story based on the scenario was written by Steve Talbot for the Aug 1916 Photo-Play Journal.
       The film was released in 1916, but not copyrighted until its re-release in 1923, by Tri-Stone Pictures.