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The Heroin Hub: Chapter 2

Season 20, Episode 2

Location: Kensington area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Official Synopsis: Interventionist Donna Chavous must re-think Janine’s intervention now that she’s in jail. Interventionist Jim Reidy meets with Nicole’s family and learns how she ended up on the streets. 38-year-old heroin addict Bill finances his addiction by selling clean needles to other addicts. The city of Philadelphia organizes a mass eviction in Kensington to remove addicts from the neighborhood.

My Thoughts:  This season is moving pretty slow so far in terms of the addicts, families, and their interventions but I’m okay with it. In fact I appreciate the time they’re spending on the street evictions and even wish there was a little more time devoted to that, maybe some more perspectives from the residents and community leaders about what they think some potential solutions are. It’s a pretty nuanced and balanced discussion they’re presenting here, very documentary like, but I’m guessing there are even more sides to this that could be represented by more voices.

Date aired: August 13, 2019

Interventionist: Donna

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  1. Toreigh

    Nicole seriously breaks my heart. She has such a wonderful spirit. Shes brutally honest, and caring. She will do illegal things, but she won’t steal from someone and the fact that she acknowledges how disrespectful it would be to bring something into her sisters home or vehicle says a ton about her actual person. I’m not sure if it’s the way of the filming but I’m really not connecting on any level with Janine. I hope she does go to treatment. Healthy is always best. Anticipating next weeks episode.

    1. Joe

      I picked up on that with Nicole too. You can see there’s a great person underneath the mess she is now. Janine I’m on the fence too. Of course we all hope she sobers up but it doesn’t feel like she’s hit bottom. I’m really liking that new guy who sells needles too. He seems like he’s a good guy deep down. I hope they all pull through!

      1. Toreigh

        He seems ok so far. I dont think (at least not to me) that they showed him enough for me to see who he is. Some people just stand out immediately, like nicole did, and some you need a little bit to see into them. I feel like he will be a good dude though. The infection I’m his ankle gave me a funky feeling in my belly. Hes a pretty good looking guy as an addict, I’m wondering how seriously handsome he will be sober!

  2. Joe

    I agree this is moving a bit slower than I hoped. Certainly not as fast as the Heroin Triangle which I really enjoyed. Still it’s an engrossing departure from the normal episodes. Even though I’m a recovering addict that area of Philly is shocking and I’ve seen some hairy drug areas around the world. Does it seem to anyone else there are more commercials and less content in these episodes? Right when they get rolling a commercial comes up. It seems like they could have shown everything in 15 minutes as opposed to the whole episode. Eh I’m stil watching it!!

  3. DEAN K

    Love episodes with Donna.

  4. Canadian Jay

    I wish they spent more time discussing the issues of Kensington. It’s one of the largest concentrations of addicts anywhere in the world. They should have done some history and how it ended up the way it did. It’s immensely complicated and they kind of just glossed all over it. It’s similar to Vancouver’s downtown east side, a 100 year history of struggles made Vancouver’s east side what it is today, a large drug hellhole.

    Nicole breaks my heart. There’s a good person in there and I hope she makes it. I’m not sure how she ended up with that loser of a boyfriend but I hope she dumps him. All he cares about is his next fix. Nicole is just a drug ATM to him.

    There’s something off-putting about Janine. I’m not sure what it is but she’s really unlikeable. She’s incredibly selfish and manipulative. I can’t believe she made her aunt beg her tricks and johns for money.

  5. betsy brantley

    LOL “Are you interested in being anywhere else but transport to another jail…?’

    As much as that Intervention was total buffoonery, Donna’s summation was pretty sobering: ‘I don’t know how much that intervention really helped, or if we even affected (Janine) any?’

  6. betsy brantley

    I think this H.H. was to be another Intervention complement featurette that was suppose to engage (motivate?) their fan base, à la ‘Talking Dead,’ but failed miserably and producers just salvaged all of that footage and really tried to incorporate it into the new season.

    This all just reeks of someone sincerely trying NOT to loose any more money on a bad investment; a lot of visible band-aids covering (new) dilettante enthusiasm.

    1. Carly

      I’m so heartbroken about bill, I had high hopes for him. What happened To his niece?! That breaks my heart

  7. Nivey

    Oh no! So very sad to read of his passing! Bill had such a kind hearted spirit about him! He was so genuine and you could see if he could only beat this awful addiction he could thrive! Recently someone posted how well Alana was doing in recovery in CA. I always prayed that they would both make it to a healthy and happy sober life together! They split up but both stayed in CA and never returned to PA. I’m happy Bill at least for a time found some peace while he was there. My prayers are with Bill and his loved ones. Sweet guy. RIP. 🩶

    1. BK

      Poor family has been through a lot. His niece passed October 2020

  8. BK

    RIP Bill. You are with your beautiful niece Kaleena now