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Season 17, Episode 6

Austin

Age: 21
Location:  Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Addiction:  Heroin, Fentanyl

What’s Memorable:  The family did this intervention just in time, right after he started using needles.  Once that’s the norm it seems like it’s harder to imagine getting clean and being sick feels a lot worse. The whole running away from the intervention and then him calling up mom a few weeks later and her reading the letters from the planned intervention, I think that might be a first for the show. Good job mom! Jesse’s approach to interventions is really interesting.  In the two I’ve seen, he always gets straight to the heart of what the family does NOT want to talk about and basically asks them “what did you to him to make him like this?” In a gentle way, of course, but it’s effective.  Both times the family had to address head-on what their role was and what the addicts’ triggers are. Seems like that’s a pretty good way to get the family to a place where they have a deeper understanding of the addict’s behaviors and know better how they’ll be able to help him during recovery.

Official Synopsis: Austin had everything he could have wanted growing up: the love and support of a close-knit family and an invitation to go to a school for gifted teens. But not wanting to be separated from his pals, Austin turned the offer down in favor of the local high school, a decision that led to a life of partying, and ultimately down the rabbit hole of heroin and fentanyl addiction. Now his family can only watch in horror as Austin wastes his considerable gifts on the relentless pursuit of his addiction.

Date Aired:  September 2017
Interventionist:
Jesse

Comments
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Comments

  1. Dee

    This one was really sad. You could tell what a good person he was behind his addiction. He was from a super loving family.
    I was so sad for him when he thought his girlfriend had passed away.
    I like the follow up, but just hope he can stay on the straight and narrow.
    Maybe I’m wrong, but he never left Ontario, which sometimes isn’t a good thing for people trying to stay clean.
    Any updates on him?

  2. Kenz

    This was one of those episodes where a good kid just got into the wrong crowd. He really needed help, along with his girlfriend. It was sad it took him 6 months to realize that he needed to get sober, but I’m so ecstatic his mom and grandmother still stood by his side and took him to treatment. I hope he is still doing good, he can have a great future!

  3. April

    I don’t know why, but I spent most of this episode just really not caring for him at all. Until the intervention. Then I saw him as he was. He genuinely is a smart and extremely talented guy. With a very soft heart. Which is probably what got him into his addiction so deep. I’m going to rewatch this one because now that he’s sober. I don’t even know him and I’m proud of him.

  4. Danielle

    Praying for him to make it. I really felt for him in this.

  5. Renee Sadie

    I felt the same way about Alex myself

  6. Renee Sadie

    I really like Austin. He seems like the kind of person I’d hang out with. I also thought a lot about Sebastian and Marcel watching him for whatever reason. I hope he sticks with sobriety.

  7. Crystal Grandmond

    I’m from Kitchener and Austin I truly hope that you can remain sober. My family didn’t bother with an intervention and I wished they would have..I did finally get sober on my own. If I can do it, you can do it. Way to go Austin, life is way better sober.

  8. Trisha Manchurek

    I need help so badly for my 26 yr old son who is smoking Fentynal. I am in Windsor ont and have no resources to help him because of Covid 19 . Our programs are full …there is no therapy available …even the hospital detox is full …my son is killing me …I’m getting sick trying to save him …I’ve done everything I can ….I need help !!!! Pleaseeee

    1. Shannan

      Have you tried contacting intervention ? Or the number they list at the end of each episode? Sending well wishes to you and your family

    2. Kara Bishop

      Here is how you submit someone to be considered for intervention on A&E. It does mention something about not having information on casting for Canada but I would still try. I really hope that your son finally got help, but if not, please look at this link also…now that Covid is over hopefully there are more resources for you. The hard part is that really the addict won’t be successful in recovery or even go to recovery until they want to go but there are ways to help them want to go, as seen on the show. My prayers and thoughts are with you Trisha and your son! Please update us also, if you have the time. Also, I would love to have an update on Austin. If anyone knows him, could you please leave a comment. I truly hope he stayed sober or if he did relapse, that he went back and is now sober. ❤️🙏🏼

      https://support.aetv.com/hc/en-us/articles/216777867-How-do-I-submit-someone-to-be-considered-for-Intervention-

      1. Kara Bishop

        On the link there are 2 links for immediate help for Canada and for the US. There is also a link for finding treatment.

  9. Caitlin

    Are he and Aliee still together?

    1. Caitlin

      Oh nevermind. Just finished the ending. Sucks they broke up