Season 5 Episode 10
Lana
Age: 24
Location: St. George, Utah
Addiction: Alcohol & Pain pills
What’s memorable: Lana makes the Most Disturbing list on account of what happened to her only 6 months before the episode aired. I can’t begin to imagine the feeling of watching yourself being raped for 5 hours on video and not knowing it ever happened (she was drugged). I understand why the police showed her the tape, but I can’t help but wonder how different things could have been if she didn’t know it ever happened. I just don’t know how I would feel in her situation. It’s so upsetting to even think about. Also memorable: the darling, sad little brother who takes care of her, her very decent family that just don’t get it, the violent boyfriend, the sheer amount of wine she drinks.
Official Synopsis: Lana grew up in a family of 11 children, and her older sister introduced her to drinking at the age of seven. Despite this precarious start, Lana excelled in sports and was active in the church. But at 18, Lana began to enter into dangerous relationships with men and started abusing drugs and alcohol. She was in two near-fatal car accidents. And now, too make things even worse, she is in a relationship plagued by physical violence.
Original Air Date: February 2009
Interventionist: Ken
Good to know that the family really loves and cares about her well being and better know the addiction consumes altogether, she has improved her life and family and make sure a life of its own and diguina for herself without affect all together and she always knows that all love you very much.
Along with brookes intervention…lanas made me cry cry cry. shes so sweet and genuine and its no wonder she was an alcoholic. what happened to this sweet girl was terrible and for her family to hear that news was probably horrid after watching her grow into what she became. My heart has never been so touched by an intervention episode. hope she made a full recovery and is happy now.
I’m with ya on that! Her and Brooke just had that sad look in their eyes the entire episode. I just wanted to reach in and hug them through the TV 🙁
I probably cried more during this episode than any other. What a sweet and loving family. Her little brother absolutely killed me. Lana seemed so lost but she looked so amazing and happy in the follow up. Hope she is still doing well today!
Found arrest records for heroin paraphernalia in ’11 and ’13 and the mugshot is pretty rough. Heartbreaking stuff!
http://utah.arrests.org/Arrests/Lana_Nelson_11745164/
And another arrest in 2011 for heroin and parephenalia charges.
Very, very sad. What a heartbreaking struggle for so many..
This is breaking my heart. Lana’s story just hits close to home for me because she’s roughly my age and I could have easily gone down that same path. Poor girl, I just feel for her.
It’s a horrible drug..once it gets it’s claws in you..it doesn’t let go very easily…some can’t get away from it..very sad
http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/2015/02/20/arrests/23779649/
This was just updated on February 2015. Another couple of heroin and paraphernalia possessions. It’s very sad to see her life is in shambles, at least that is what it seems like. I hope you find your way soon Lana.
Wow thanks for posting the link. How sad. Such a pretty girl. Family must be heartbroken. I hope she finds her way.
If ever there was a case that proved that love is not enough to break addiction, this would be it I guess. It was heart-wrenching to see how desperately her family loved her, especially her brother and sister who took care of her. I wish I had a sibling relationship like that. To have that kind of love and support and still keep getting pulled back into addiction is what is so tragic about her story, I can’t get it out of my head.
Lana is my cousin’s cousin if that makes sense, so my cousins are related to me on their mom’s side and related to Lana on their dad’s side. So idk if we are officially related. Either way, I had no idea she was an addict. I don’t know her well though. I’ve only met her when she lived in CA and at our cousins wedding. Our family is very religious (Mormon) and very in denial about “bad” things like rape and drugs. I was raped in our mutual cousins house so I know first hand. At first our mutual cousin, aunt and uncle (and my parents) blamed me. It devastated me and I ended up using heroin for 3 years over it. Up until two weeks ago (7years later) I finally now feel safe talking about it and don’t think they blame me now. I say all this so you might understand the background of our family. I really hope she is doing well now and that she is healing.
Nicole, you could not have explained the family better thank you for your comment please call me 7028302573 or facebook me.
lana rose nelson
Hey Lana I just texted you. I can add you on Facebook as well. I actually am going by my middle name on this site so if you don’t recognize my name on Facebook that is why. My first name is Lindsey.
LANA!! Same #??? I want to call you!!
People and the search of our victory is quite an amazing thing.
Sadly though, sometimes our victories come from the sedation of the pains we endure in this search.
Lana, I hope the angels guide your footing into the arms of love.
You might need friends and music. Please find it, And if you do, tell me where it is at.
I just watched this episode tonight. Her story really touched me. I was so happy at the end when it said that she moved to Maryland, then back to Utah to be closer to get family and that she has been sober since 2008. Then I clicked on the link above. Is that arrest record correct? It doesn’t really look like her, though if it is her she may be under the influence, which would probably an effect on how she would look. But still, the woman in the picture is a brunette and doesn’t really look like Lana. Also, the bottom of the page (if you scroll all the way to the bottom) says California. Maybe it’s my eternal optimism and hope for others as a recovering alcoholic as well. But I’m thinking it could possibly be a mix up. Nicole, since you are semi-related, lol, do you know of her whereabouts and/or current situation?
I just watched this episode again on the A&E web site. I felt so bad for her. I was so hoping she’d stay sober, but after a web search I see that she is currently in jail. She was arrested in January of this year and then again just last week for Possession or Use of a Controlled Substance, Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving on Suspension. Really sad, as the follow up sounded like she was still sober.
https://news.washeriff.net/divisions/corrections-division/inmate-information/current-inmate-roster/
For anyone wondering about Lana, I spoke with her a few days ago on the phone for over an hour. She is currently living in Arizona with friends and sounded like she is doing well. She has set up a Facebook group called Intervention Survivors for people who have been on the show to get in contact and is planning to use her experience on Intervention as a platform for activism involving issues of rape, and sexual assault as well as addiction and energy healing. She told me she feels like she was on the show for a reason, and has been working through the horrific things she experienced and is now to a point where she feels ok to move forward on her plan to help others. I don’t want to speak for her, so I won’t say anymore, other than that I really admire her courage and strength to rise from the ashes and help other people. She is a really awesome person and hopefully I will get to know her better, we are family after all! ????
Poor girl. Still struggling. You hope that treatment plants a seed though, that will sprout at some point.
http://arre.st/UT-113975064
http://www.policebookingreports.com/2016/09/14/lana-rose-nelson/
Someone’s post above had an older link but it looked like Lana had a fresh arrest. Indeed, it seems she was arrested again recently.
http://arre.st/UT-113994446 a few days ago…
She must have gotten married bec she is also under Lana Nelson Washington. I hope she finds peace n happiness down the road
Disregard my post pl. its incorrect
http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/homeless-in-utahs-dixie-a-growing-problem/602410333
Looks like she spent time in the shelter most recently. It mentions in the article that she was starting a new job! Keeping her in my thoughts…
Lana was arrested less than a month ago but it looks like this one is just a warrant. That’s good at least… http://arre.st/UT-114016460
Any updates on Lana?
It was the summer of 2004 when I walked into a local Dana Point, CA coffee shop. That’s when I saw the most beautiful young lady in the world working behind the counter. She was so sweet and seemed so out of place in this coastal town in the infamous Orange County. She was such a breath of fresh air and I was completely smitten in less than one minute of talking with her. She said she wanted to learn to surf and I offered to give her lessons. She wrote her name and phone number on a piece of yellow paper and gave it to me. I went straight home and wrote a song about her called, “Coffeeshop Girl.” We made plans that never happened. I never saw her again. It completely breaks my heart to see how a young 20-year old girl, with her whole world ahead of her, came upon such hard times. I wish her the best and am thankful for places like Switchpoint Community Resource Center that has sheltered her. My day has been devastated.
this broke my heart. all i keep thinking about now is her face from her high school picture from the show, bright and happy, working at a coffee shop. my heart hurts…
I found her Facebook page and she seems to be doing good, and looks good and healthy…hope she is as well as she looks
She appeared on the news as a resident of a homeless shelter at some point.
http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/homeless-in-utahs-dixie-a-growing-problem/602410333
Just saw she was arrested for a warrant and possession 10/25/17:(
I feel so bad for her family.
http://arre.st/UT-114046675
No sure how she’s doing now but she was homeless at one point too.
http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/homeless-in-utahs-dixie-a-growing-problem/602410333
https://www.facebook.com/lanarosenelson She is doing great!
I really like Lana.
Her family on the other hand are really kind of annoying. That youngest brother John? Feigning hysterical crying with no actual tears being shed. Also, the sister who says “The mixture of drugs and alcohol can be lethal!” looks like Amy Sedaris doing a sketch on some church lady like character with wild eyes.
Not saying this wasn’t all very serious, but honestly the reactions of the family were theatrical and over-done, whereas the Mom was just kind of bitchy (like the comment where she comments on Lana’s already being brain-damaged.).
I am comparing it now to the gold standard of interventions, i.e., Seth’s intervenytion of Megan fromm Carson City NV. Those family members were made to understand their own culpability, and I thought that was absent here.
I think you are judging her family much too harshly, Alice Schmid.
https://m.facebook.com/interventionsurvivors/
I’m friends with her on fb and the page above is also legit….
Congratulations Lana on 1yr Sober!! You got this!!!
I just saw her Facebook and she looks healthy and happy and seems to be surrounded with good people. It’s great to see you doing well Lana, you deserve it!
Shes officially 19 months sober today c: (2019 update) xx posted about it on her Instagram
what is her handle on instagram? I would love to follow her I am so so happy she is doing well! She seemed like someone i would/could be friends with!
Guys!!! She’s 18 months sober AND ENGAGED!!! So happy for her!
it’s kinna funny to notice that everytime that there’s a pretty girl on the show being an addict, I see comments like ” so sad, what a PRETTY GIRL ”… I mean, what the addict is ugly? is it as sad?
Anyway, I hope that Lana is doing good.
Exactly!!!
THANK YOU for this comment…this show gives us an incredibly intimate look at incredibly deep and complicated human beings. It astonishes me that people choose to describe these complex individuals as “such a pretty girl.” It cheapens and flattens a person who deserves to be seen dimensionally.
Lana’s story was inspiring. The humility she was able to show after initially resisting was so beautiful, and I hope she is still going strong! I appreciate Lana and her family sharing so bravely and openly.
Thank you Chris🙏❤️ I am so blessed to have this second chance at life. I have 1001 days clean and Sober today. I work a program and have a sponsor. I also Sponsor woman in the program. I never thought that my story what I have been through could help someone else. This has been the greatest gift🙏 Thank you all for sharing you love, hope, and prayers with me and my family throughout this journey.
Sending you blessings and pure light 💡 of Love.
Lana Rose
Facebook: Lana Rose Nelson
Instagram @rosestonelana
Facebook group: A&E intervention I survived a reality tv show
Just rewatched your episode. You are so strong! It’s so good to here that you are doing well and thriving. Were all rooting for you!
I agree. So its not as tragic when a fat girl dies or is affected?
I follow Lana on FB and today she posted that she’s 3 years clean and sober. Her post was super positive and it sounds like she’s in a great place!
Just saw that myself! So happy!
I would like to say that, Lana’s episode should be listed when “Benzodiazepines” are part of the search. Watching it now, and she takes them along with pain medications.
I agree. I really liked Lana and had much in common with her. Lana if you are reading this, I know you have the strength to stay sober.
She posted on 2-22 that she’s 4 years sober!
Saw a post from just a few moments ago on her Facebook page and she’s absolutely glowing. What a wonderful update to find as I finish watching her episode. This lovely lady deserves her happiness.
Just watched this episode and was so touched by Lana. She seemed so wonderful. Looks like as of September 2023 she was doing good on Instagram, however, she looks extremely unhealthily skinny. Looks like she works in the diet / fitness industry. Just praying she is healthy & happy!! Saw one of her sisters was homeless and missing…they seemed like such a nice family so sad to hear of all the tragedy.
Just rewatched this episode. It definitely stuck with me the first time I saw it. I’m saddened to see comments that she’s been struggling still. I hope today there’s hope she can find peace and conquer her addiction. I always wanted a big family, but it’s a good reminder that the grass isn’t always greener. I was one of 2 kids and my parents worked full time and even I felt like I didn’t get enough of their time. I can’t fathom sharing your parents with 10 other children.