Intervention (TV series)

Intervention is an American documentary series that premiered on March 6, 2005, on A&E. It follows one or two participants, who are dependent on or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. They are documented in anticipation of an intervention meeting by family or friends. During the intervention meeting, loved ones give the addict an ultimatum: go to an inpatient drug rehabilitation program immediately, or else risk losing contact, income, or other privileges. The show follows up on the recovery progress for future episodes or for web shorts.

On May 24, 2013, A&E announced it had concluded the series, with remaining episodes to begin airing in June 2013. The final episode in the lineup aired on July 18, 2013, and concluded with reflections from past addicts and thanks from the producers to the interventionists, family members, treatment centers, and addicts. On August 5, 2014, however, LMN announced the revival of the series with a new season premiering in 2015.

A&E revealed the return of the show on January 13, 2015, and aired both a special behind-the-scenes episode showing the filming process and updates from former addicts. Season 25 premiered on April 22, 2024.

Overview
The show follows one or two participants who have either substance dependence or addiction, and occasionally, eating disorders. It is a documentary of their addiction, including graphic substance abuse and its effect upon their lives, until a surprise intervention event is conducted with a professional interventionist. It is intercut with interviews with relatives and friends. In the intervention, the addict is given an ultimatum: either undergo a 90-day, fully covered treatment plan at a rehabilitation facility or risk losing contact, income or privileges from their relatives and friends.

In situations where the individuals in the addict's close circle have become codependent or otherwise traumatized by the addict's behavior, the interventionist usually recommends that the entire family seek counseling to enable them to move on. Medical detoxification is available when drug withdrawal is dangerous.

Interventionists
The role of the Interventionist on the show is to persuade the addict to consent to the treatment being offered. If the patient agrees to recovery, some of the Interventionists will accompany the addict to the treatment facility or provide a nurse. They will advise each addict on which center they are assigned to base on their addiction, which is typically in a different state than where they reside. Many Interventionists have appeared on the show since its start in 2005.

Ken Seeley is an Interventionist, certified in CCMI-M, CIP, CTP, CADC, CAS. He is a recovering addict himself devoting his life to helping others and has his own recovery treatment facility in Palm Springs, CA. Seeley has made many appearances on the show since 2005. Jeff VanVonderen is a Certified Intervention Professional, also gives motivational speeches across the country, and has been highlighted in several publications. VanVonderen has appeared on several episodes of the show starting in 2005. Candy Finnigan is an Interventionist, Certified Master Addiction Counselor III. and Board Registered Interventionist II. and received several certificates in drug addiction. Finnigan is a recovering addict herself and has written a book called "When Enough is Enough" about how others can offer support for someone with an addiction.

Sylvia Parsons, Interventionist, certified in MS, LCAS, CSAC, QSAP, QMHP with a Master of Science Addiction Counseling. She is a professional therapist with her own counseling facility. Parsons is a recovering addict herself and has been sober from 2006 to the present. Michael Gonzales is an Interventionist and certified CIP, CTP, Cpi., Full Member of AIS. He has dedicated his life to helping families and addicts on healing from addiction. In the past, Gonzales has spent time in jail and recovered from addiction. Heather Hayes is another Interventionist certified in M.Ed., LPC, CIP and a Master's Level, Licensed Counselor. She has been featured on other broadcast networks, public speaking engagements around the world and has written several documents about addiction. Hayes helped many addicts on the 2018 broadcast of the show.

James "Jim" Reidy is an Interventionist who has spent over a decade of his life battling his own addiction. He has devoted his life to helping others in their recovery for addiction, traveling to many states, and working with their support system. Leticia Murphy is in Interventionist, certified in M.A., LMFT, LCADC. She has her own business in Las Vegas, Nevada where she sees clients for various mental health issues. Donna Chavous is an Interventionist, who chose this path after being addicted for many years and seeing others die from it. She started helping addicts on the show in 2010. Vance Johnson is an Interventionist and Recovery Ambassador on the show as well as the states. He is a former athlete and addict that has recovered and is helping others in their healing journey.

Celebrity subjects
Most episodes feature average people, with a few entertainment professionals. Vanessa Marquez, a supporting actress on the first three seasons of ER, appeared in season 1, episode 2 due to a compulsive shopping disorder. Travis Meeks, lead singer of the Alternative rock band Days of the New, appeared in season 1, episode 5, focusing on his methamphetamine addiction. Antwahn Nance, a 6'10" former NBA power forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, was featured in season 2, episode 8, as he ended up homeless due to his crack cocaine addiction. Chuckie Negron, the son of Three Dog Night vocalist Chuck Negron, was featured in season 2, episode 10, with heroin addiction. Tressa Thompson, a women's shot put champion, was featured in season 4, episode 7, as her Olympic dreams were ended by her methamphetamine drug abuse. Aaron Brink, a porn star and once moderately successful mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, featured in season 6, episode 8, lost both of his careers due to his methamphetamine addiction. Rocky Lockridge, a two-time Super Featherweight boxing champion, was featured in season 7, episode 13, due to his homelessness and drug addiction. He later died, in 2019, due to complications after suffering a stroke. Linda Li, an actress who played a Taresian woman in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Favorite Son" as well as appearing as an extra in TV shows and movies, was featured in season 7, episode 1, where she battles an addiction to Actiq, a transmucosal Fentanyl lozenge on a stick or "perc-a-pop". David Sax Jr., the son of former Major League Baseball player Dave Sax and nephew of former Major League Baseball player Steve Sax, was shown in season 14, episode 12, battling an addiction to methamphetamine and alcohol. Amber Rose, a model, musician, and social media phenomenon, is featured in season 24, episode 6. She travels back to South Philadelphia, to help her childhood best friend Tina. Tina, is heavily addicted to fentanyl and crack cocaine.

Reception
The show received the 2009 Emmy award for Outstanding Reality Program and the 2010 Emmy award for outstanding picture of reality editing.

Criticism
Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe, a critic of the show, argues that the program is exploitative and showcases individuals as they self-destruct. He also argues that the confrontation within the intervention is milked to show only the most dramatic moments and that the final results of the intervention and subsequent rehabilitation are glossed-over.

Melanie McFarland, another television critic, also laments that the show does little to educate on successful intervention and instead deceives the subjects of each episode in order to film them at their lowest point.

Legacy
During early 2011, A&E aired the series Relapse, which ran for five episodes. Each episode focuses on sober coaches' work with long-time addicts who have been unable to get clean after repeated attempts at treatment. Coach Seth Jaffe became an interventionist on the main series.

Several spin-off series were launched. On September 9, 2011, Intervention Canada debuted on Slice Network. On December 28, 2012, Teen Trouble debuted on Lifetime which is executive produced by Bryn Freedman, a former Intervention producer. On March 8, 2016, Intervention: Codependent premiered on LMN.

In popular culture
There are countless television references to Intervention, including parodies of being addicted to the show.

On April 16, 2010, the video "Best Cry Ever" was posted on YouTube, featuring a clip from Season 7 episode "Rocky". The clip centers around a dramatic scene in which former professional boxer Rocky Lockridge is crying in a distinctive way. It has become an Internet phenomenon. A Saturday Night Live sketch features an Intervention parody with guest host Jon Hamm crying in a similar fashion.

The South Park episode "Crippled Summer" parodied Intervention with the character Towelie.