Author Topic: Intervention (Read 3684 times)

Maximilian · « **on:** August 30, 2010, 09:59:37 PM »

Has anybody seen this show on A&E before? I've been watching it recently, and I think it's pretty interesting. The people they choose for that show have serious issues and the family gets the help of a professional interventionist, to offer them rehab or no further financial support, which they are usually receiving from family in some way. Most of the people seem to accept the free treatment, which seem to be in very nice rehabs, not like programs at all.

The people on the show remind me a lot of myself when I was a troubled teen and when I've dealt with my addiction issues. What do people here think about this show? Do you think the people on the show need help, and that an intervention like they show is a good way to pressure somebody who needs treatment, to go? It's sad to watch a show with people at such a low point in their life, but I really like the follow ups they do when they show the person sober.

They usually look completely different, and talk about how their life improved thanks to the show. I think that show has probably saved some lives, I read on their forums they get a ton of calls for help. But I think families can watch this show and do their own interventions based on what they see, but not everybody can afford a long term nice treatment facility like they get for free on this program.

So what do you think about this show? Have you seen it before? If not, I suggest you watch it. If you have an interest in addiction issues, and treatment in general it shows what it can be like, from the perspective of an addict and also the family watching them suffer. I'm just glad that the show gets the chance to help people and get them treatment, so I watch it so I can add to the ratings and they can stay on the air and help more people. It's also great it educates families about interventions and in to people dealing with addiction they can realize there is help out there.

Che Gookin · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2010, 10:24:31 PM »

Nope, can't say I have seen any of those shows. Couldn't be any worst than Spring Creek Lodge I suppose.

Botched Programming · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2010, 10:39:17 PM »

Quote from: "Maximilian"

Has anybody seen this show on A&E before?

They actually have send some of the stars from Intervention to a couple of the treatment centers and halfway houses here in Florida..Where I am at .... Bwwwaaaahhh..... Time to go on another newcomer rescue mission...

Maximilian · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:20:25 PM »

Yeah, seems to be Florida and California mostly, the expensive ones! The rehabs they get sent to for sometimes as long as 6 months cost huge sums of money. I think that's why so many of them are grateful afterwards. But what's most shocking is how different they look, when they are an addict, and then after a while of sobriety, they look unrecognizable like totally different people. I find the show very inspiring, but also a reminder of how things can spin out of control for some people. I'm just curious if people here find the idea of intervention to be abusive. Most of the families they select seem to be enabling the addict in some way, like paying their rent, or giving them money, or even the pills/drugs they use. So the families have some leverage to use in the intervention to pressure them into treatment. But they are all adults and they willingly enter treatment, so it's not the same as programs. But the show does capture a lot of what it's like for families dealing with addicts who don't want to get help.

Che Gookin · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:21:05 PM »

Are there any good rehabs that haven't been poisoned by the 12 steps?

Maximilian · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:23:41 PM »

Passages Malibu. They claim to "cure addiction", and don't follow the AA message that it's a disease. Their website has tesimonials saying how AA sucks and his book is awesome and saved their life. AA is free, nobody is making money off it. But there are plenty of people out there who are willing to tap into that huge market, and make a book selling "cures" and what not. But who knows, maybe it works, I never read the book.

Che Gookin · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:25:30 PM »

You pay for what you get I guess. Given AA's relapse rate people really are paying for what they get.

Botched Programming · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:29:58 PM »

Quote from: "Che Gookin"

You pay for what you get I guess. Given AA's relapse rate people really are paying for what they get.

Put a dollar in the basket... 90 meetings in 90 days= $90 dollars for 3 months

Maximilian · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2010, 11:37:23 PM »

Funny because aren't private programs like the one's discussed here really expensive? Yet people here offer the advice for parents to buck up and take care of it themselves, or to use wrap around community option. Which option is cheaper? So now that we've established price is not an indicator of effectiveness, I just want to say that AA uses the money collected to pay for their space rental, print literature, buy chips, and buy books. People donate money if they choose to, nobody is forced and when new members show up it's not uncommon for people to give them free big books. To me AA is the the good people that make up the organization, it's not some monolithic corporation, it's made up of regular people trying to help others. This intervention show gets them to some nice treatment centers, but eventually they go back home and have to deal with the same choices as before, and that's when sometimes it helps to have a support group.

Che Gookin · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2010, 12:29:09 AM »

My sole piece of advice for people wanting to drink less has always been drink less. I've never endorsed a public program, private program, or a sham like AA. The price you pay for places like AA can come in other guises as well. Just looking at the Hassan article posted on the other thread the price a so called recovering lush pays is far more than 90 cents a meeting.

shaggys · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2010, 11:45:58 AM »

Right on Che. I have watched the show a few times and everytime I do, I find myself wanting to grab the so-called addict by the collar, back hand their face and tell them to sober the fuck up. See thats my problem with so much of this. I just dont understand how someone can allow a substance to completely dominate their life. I do not believe it is a disease and so to me it appears as little more than some kind of pathological self-indulgence which the person can choose to stop at any point they truly decide to. Want to stop doing drugs? Then stop doing drugs! I strongly object to teaching anyone that they are powerless over a substance. I know people who need help with psychological and consequent chemical issues but i dont know anywhere to recomend for them because I thought all the treatment centers were infected with that stepcraft BS. Please discuss any treatment centers that do not subscribe to those fucked-up STEPS. Thanks.

Froderik · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2010, 11:50:43 AM »

Quote from: "shaggys"

Please discuss any treatment centers that do not subscribe to those fucked-up STEPS. Thanks.

You'd think that there would have to be some that didn't ascribe to the steps, or coercive 'intervention.'

DannyB II · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2010, 05:56:47 PM »

Quote from: "Che Gookin"

Are there any good rehabs that haven't been poisoned by the 12 steps?

Hey, that would be a good job for you Che, go find out.

Eliscu2 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2010, 06:01:41 PM »

:whip:

DannyB II · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2010, 06:15:31 PM »

Quote from: "Che Gookin"

My sole piece of advice for people wanting to drink less has always been drink less. I've never endorsed a public program, private program, or a sham like AA. The price you pay for places like AA can come in other guises as well. Just looking at the Hassan article posted on the other thread the price a so called recovering lush pays is far more than 90 cents a meeting.

This would be all well and good if the merits of your argument could actually hold your liquor, Che. The only thing your doing here is regurgitating what you have heard others say, I have already read it from the originals, please stop plagiarizing. You really have no experience with AA or any program or institution that using a Twelve Step Method (if they even exist anymore). Yet you ramble on like you actually can have a intellectual conversation about the principles of AA and how they are implemented our lives. You can not, which is OK, really. I don't expect you too, yet I also don't expect you to be chastising an organization that helped Max and myself.

Your acting like a buffoon, didn't you just put out a thread asking people to stop doing the very thing your doing here. Baiting, ridiculing and flaming, by golly I think you did. I guess it does not mean to instruct you, does it?

There is AA and there will be AA tomorrow, you do not like AA and that is fine.

Now lets go bury some bad programs.

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