Since the sit-com Married with Children (1987) was a huge hit at the time, director Katt Shea was often asked why they didn't give this film a wide release to cash in on the popularity of Christina Applegate. Shea said that producer Roger Corman never gave his films a wide release. She also heard rumors that Fox, who produced Married, had contacted Corman warning him not to do it. They didn't want Applegate playing a homeless drug addict to tarnish her character on their show.
Katt Shea said in an interview that she researched the film by talking to several homeless person who she hung out with for awhile. She met a girl who was a heroin addict and that's who she used as a basis for Dawn.
Katt Shea said Christina Applegate was only 16 when she filmed this, including the partial nude sex scene.