Season 12, Episode 12
Megan
Age: 24
Location: Carson City, Nevada
Addiction: Heroin
What’s memorable: Her parents. Wow. Yeah they came around and stepped up in the end, but during Megan’s childhood and even throughout the show they were just plain terrible at dealing with things. That a mother would hold her 15 year old daughter responsible for “sleeping with” her own boyfriend, blame Megan for doing it to try and ‘get back’ at her, and then run off with him in order to get away from her daughter’s supposed seductions – holy shit, that’s just unbelievable. Also memorable is how awesome the interventionist Seth was here. He made the parents take responsibility for their part in Megan’s addiction, forcing the mom to accept that she was “1000 percent wrong” and the dad that he didn’t do anything to help Megan when she needed him the most. I have new respect for Seth – he was rightfully hard on them and the outcome of the intervention was positive.
Official Synopsis: Megan is a 24-year-old addict who turned to drugs to kill the excruciating pain she experienced as a young teen after her innocence was stolen by her mother’s boyfriend. Today, Megan’s life is at a critical point and she is facing a long stint in prison with her next mistake.
Original Air Date: November 2012
Interventionist: Seth
Probably the best pre intervention on the show. Her parents are unbelievable. Like I just have no words. Seth was amazing for Megan and making her parents own up to that shit. I wish more families were handled that way on the show. I think about Megan all the time
I haven’t seen anyone else mention this but after having watched the episode–the dad seems like he’s on the Autism spectrum. His sort of “wooden” demeanor, the fact he’s referred to many times as being an intelligent man, and works as an engineer which is a career that tends to attract people with ASD due to the orderly and mechanical nature of the field. I’m not excusing his behavior, but as someone with ASD myself, this man also seems like he could use some professional assistance with his stunted social skills and difficulties forming connections with people.
Just rewatched this one and I think it’s literally the best pre-intervention I’ve ever seen on this show. I rewound and watched it again because it was so powerful. Seth absolutely commands the entire room and knocks it out of the park. The parents needed to be called out desperately, especially the mother, who put her own selfish needs and her RAPIST boyfriend ahead of Megan. When she tried to justify it with “I did everything I could to keep them apart” I got nauseous. I was really rooting for Megan and it’s sad to hear that she’s currently still having legal troubles.
I just wrote this about the pre intervention too. Megan looks shocked when her parents apologize to her… crushing
So sad to see Megan still struggling! Her episode is so very memorable! Especially how hopeful the ending was, she looked amazing in recovery! Still praying for you Megan! Don’t give up!! 🙏
https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2023/feb/26/silver-springs-traffic-stop-leads-to-meth-bust/
Just taking a look at some episodes from the past and the addicts involved. Megan, I don’t know about her. I sure felt sorry for her – her parents, beyond belief. I hate to say it , but she may be a lost cause. Nothing against the girl, but she keeps getting into trouble. I see this latest escapade of trouble is from Feb of 2023. From what I can tell, she’s been in and out of trouble continuously since her episode (2012). It’s too bad. I liked her. She was kind of funny. Goofy. Well, I hope somehow, someway she can get it together.
Where there’s life there’s hope.
heart-breaking.
I’m in absolute shock over these parents. They are literally the absolute worst parents I’ve ever seen in my life. My heart aches for his young lady. I know this episode was over 10 years ago, but I hope and pray she’s okay. I hope someone shows her the love she so desperately needs and deserves.
Looks like she is on active warrants list (Megan Erin Haffey) for some sort of arrest during probation
Yes, in 2021 she was on an active warrant list. She was also briefly married, then divorced. I hope she’s doing okay, but she certainly has struggled.
Saw this episode for the first time with my boyfriend yesterday and the amount of times we had to pause to blow off steam after screaming at Megan’s mother and father was countless. The fact that her mother just out of nowhere was like, “I don’t want to be a mother anymore,” then packs her RV and leaves her kids behind made me so furious. It made me even more furious when she said to Seth, “what about my happiness?” Bitch, you got married and had three children with your husband. Your job as a mother is to put your children’s happiness before your own. That fact that you blamed Megan for her getting raped by your scumbag boyfriend, claiming it was “justification” for Megan supposedly “flirting” with him and dressing like a typical teenager almost had me throwing stuff across the room. Nobody asks to be raped, ever. You failed at your job as a parent and Megan’s dad? The fact that he didn’t even call the cops or bring Megan to the hospital to get checked out shows that he failed as a father. I’m so glad Megan had her mentor Tammi and her Aunt Jan in her life. Those two were her saving grace.
Her parents are two people who 100% never should’ve had children. It amazes me how well adjusted her brother seemed to be considering he was raised by them as well, although going by updates on this thread he’s had his own troubles with the law.
I just re-watched Megan’s episode and her parents make me feel SOOO grateful for my own parents. They really are terrible excuses for parents, and if I were Megan I woukd have cut them out of my life long ago. What kind of mother says her daughter ruined her life/happiness because HER pedophile boyfriend ra*ed her daughter? Absolutely appalling. Good thing Seth took on this one. I think Ruth the mentor is the only normal adult in Megan’s life.
I really hope Megan can get on the right path away from her toxic family..
@Susie I couldn’t agree with you more!! Her parents are despicable patents/humans! I agree Seth was the best interventionist for this case! He keeps it all the way real! When he said: ” With the family and background she has I would be surprised if she WAS NOT a drug addict!” So powerful and TRUE! She was a very likable young lady! She looked amazing after her recovery too! Sad to hear she is still struggling but I pray she finds her way! I agree, I appreciate my parents so much more, their faults and all after watching this episode! Both parents insufferable and unforgivable. Shame on them. I’m praying for you Megan! Xo
I wanted to reach out and say u are a strong woman to be put in such a hard place in life.i just saw ur intervention and thx u for giving me strength thx u .you are a true inspiration to me and everyone around .stay strong and I’ll try to follow ur xample
Safe to say, I’ve seen every U.S. episode of Intervention, since Season One; most of them, several times. The Megan intervention really stays with me, and not just for the obvious reasons (the crazily inappropriate parents, for starters). What sticks with me most is Seth’s deft touch in this episode. Truly master class-worthy work by him. Sort of, “This is how it’s done!” He was always impressive and his interventions remain amongst my favorite episodes. Does anyone know if he is completely detached from the show at this point? I’d love to see him make a return. The disgusted facial expression he makes after the mother says, “Don’t I deserve to live my own life?” is legendary.
I agree with all of this and more. Seth usually always nails the difficult cases.
Okay first of all how much do we love Megan’s best friend?? She is lucky to have her. Also, I noticed that the pre-intervention occurred immediately before Megan came in for the intervention. Never seen that before, usually the pre-intervention occurs the day or night beforehand. I didn’t think she needed much convincing, she had literally nothing going for her and was barely on a run, it was that or prison and she knew it. I hope she’s okay. My dad was a little like hers, it’s a tough relationship.
Megan has a active warrant for grand larceny.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.carson.org/home/showdocument%3Fid%3D71806&ved=2ahUKEwjwmLO5j7zyAhUJbc0KHfjaAzcQFnoECC8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ocH1KK7exU8QBkrFXR_9N
Hello Alli G. – Isn’t her name Megan Haffey? I checked what you posted and all that is under her name is “ARREST MISD PROBATIO”. Now I don’t know what that means but I don’t think its Grand Larceny. I would suspect she violated her probation. Fortunately though I don’t know much about these things so I certainly could be mistaken. I’m curious what makes you think her warrant is for Grand Larceny?
Damn…I was really rooting for this girl. To put it bluntly her parents really sucked and Megan has a certain grit about her that I really like.
Episodes like this really make you wish there was a tag regarding parents. Maybe not explicitly “Worst Parents” cause that’s a bit harsh (even with these two bozos), but maybe a “Most Unbelievable Parents”, “Most Dysfunctional Family” tags. IDK though
I’ve watched this episode again and I wish Seth was on Intervention more often. I love this man because he doesn’t sugar coat any bullshit. He was exactly the right one for this particular episode. He would have been great on a lot of other ones similar to parents and/or family who talked bs like these people did.
I don’t disagree Kitty Katt but I’ve got to say I th0ught he was a bit too accepting of Megan and her behavior. Sure the parents were awful but at some point you have to take a look at Megan. I thought Seth kind of implied Megan’s shortcomings were completely the fault of the parents. I don’t agree with that. Megan was in an awful lot of pain – understandably so – however, no one but Megan put that needle in her arm.
addiction is a symptom of trauma.
To some degree that’s true, and part of getting sober is taking responsibility. But we are supposed to learn about taking responsibility from our parents – for them to offer a fraction of the apology they owed her was a step in the right direction. Honestly watching this episode almost makes me want to do some drugs. How do you stay with a man who has had sex with your adolescent daughter, even if you think she wanted it? I know this happens sadly often, but it was tough to watch.
Seth is my favorite, although I’ve seen Candy call BS on family members too.
10000% agree, KittyKatt. He was absolute perfection in this episode.
Megan is no bargain that’s for sure. But there is no doubt it would be very difficult to be a balanced human being with the parents she has. Her Mother is incredible, I couldn’t believe it. First of all she just walks out on her kids. Then she blames the poor young girl (Megan was 15 at the time) because her boyfriend took advantage of Megan. Then we have the father. I can only think of one word – WEIRD. Plus completely distant. Unable (maybe unwilling is a better word) to try to figure out his daughter. These two should not have had children. Like I said – Megan is no bargain but I think it would be awful hard to have parents like that and not be scarred.
I can’t imagine leaving my children for any man or any reason unless if I died. To blame my daughter for being sexually molested by my boyfriend is just mind boggling. This isn’t the first addict we saw who’s mother blamed her daughter. Gina’s mother also blamed her and to add salt to the wound she said because Gina throws herself to all men. Sick!
Poor Megan. She sure lost out when it came to her parents, especially her mother. When Megan was in rehab, I was thinking “Do not go back to Carson City! Forgive your mother if you can, then completely separate from her for your own good.” I have never seen such a poor excuse for a mother. Despicable.
I just re-watched this episode, and YIKES. Megan’s parents are such rotten people. I wanted to reach through the screen and shake the mother by her shoulders. Her boyfriend raped her 15-year-old daughter, and she actually had the nerve to insist that Megan had deliberately seduced him as an act of revenge from being abandoned as a child. And her evidence? Megan dressing “seductively”? That is a woman who should never have had children. It’s clear that she sees herself as a victim of Megan’s addiction, rather than a key architect of it. The father wasn’t much better. When he stated that Megan is a lower priority because he’s gotten remarried, I just wanted to scream. Megan deserved so much better. Thank goodness for her mentor, her honorary aunt, and her brother. Those three were loving, kind, fantastic people that see who Megan really is. Seth’s skills were especially on point here, essentially holding up a mirror to Ken and Debbie to force them to realize the same aloofness and neglect that they tried to portray as being a response to her addiction actually contributed, significantly so, to creating it.
This poor girl… Like most of you, I’m appalled at her parents. Her mother is just plain psychotic & her father isn’t much better. Even her “aunt” Jan has to understand it’s not the Megan who loves & appreciates her who stole from her, you’re so completely different as an addict especially heroin & opioids that make you so physically sick when you’re going through withdrawal… It doesn’t make it right, of course, but… Ya know… It’s not so cut and dry as “you stole from me so you don’t love me” when you’re an active addict…
Aunt Jen does say that she knows, it was the drugs made Megan steal and she also knows, without being an addict Megan would have never done that.
And even if you know all of that it still hurts to feel betrayed. That’s ok too.
I am worried bout Megan. Such a precious soul. Fragile, I think. Parents who are idiots, who did not follow thru on their promises to change, and I fear for her safety now….
Goodness gracious, God bless this poor lost girl, cursed with the WORST parents in the world. This poor woman had no chance from day one with parents like that. Hopefully she can make a better life for herself and learn to forgive and forget her past.
Cannot imagine the destruction, the absolute mental annihilation in being raped at 15 by your mother’s boyfriend, and to then have that horrific mother-from-hell BLAME you for enticing the rapist.
How do you recover from that?
I’m watching her episode now. Her parents, especially her mother, are absolutely deplorable. “Don’t I have a right to lice my life?” So you abandon your children? Complied with her mother blaming her and her absent and detached father, it’s wonder she turned to substances.
Poor kid never had a chance, plain and simple. Regarding her parents, totally independent of how they raised their parents, they struck me as one of those couples that got together because the one thing they had in common was that no one else wanted to date either of them. A second reason is perhaps that she wanted kids and didn’t care how or with whom, and he promised to put up with them in exchange for having a live-in maid/sex partner.
Unfortunately it looks like she was back in the system as of September 2018. https://www.facebook.com/145496622324109/posts/871913113015786?sfns=xmo
Just want to add something here.
About three months ago, a paper was published in the journal Science, that for the first time ever, definitively identified a gene that is specifically misexpressed in 1/6th of the population, and that is DIRECTLY related to addiction. To make a long story short, Swedish researchers were able to find a gene that is aberrantly expressed in the amygdala of addicts, and it is called GABA transporter 1. So two things. The Amygdala is the part o the brain that causes anxiety. horrific fear of death anxiety. And second, there are neurons that send axons into the amygdala, and other parts of these cells that exit the amygdala. And the space between the inputs and the outputs is called the synaptic cleft. And the GABA tranposrt1 is expressed on those cells exiting the amygdala. When the inputs fire and fire and fire on these cells, they just elevate anxiety in an unrelenting, hugely amplified way. And when there is no GABA transporter 1, it never ever stops. That protein is supposed to be a sponge that sops up the extra neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft. When it’s not there, it never gets sopped up, and so the cells exiting the amygdala (the ones making people terrified) ust stay active in a completely uncontrollable, unrelenting way.
What this means is that the 1/6 people susceptible to addiction have a neurological disease that makes them crave relief. For some people it’s meth, for others it’s alcohol, or gambling or sex or food….. whatever it was in their life experiences that calmed the anxiety. Even if for just a few seconds.
For Megan, this relief came from heroin. For 1/10 people, opiates have the opposite effect —- instead of relieving anxiety they exacerbate it. I am one of those people. The reason is that the opioid receptor is differently encoded by our DNA (we 1/10 people) so that instead of euphoria, we get ADDITIONAL anxiety. For those people, opiates are not the addictive substance; more typically, it’s alcohol or food, or whatever.
When I take opiates I do NOT get peace, or serenity. I get horrific anxiety. I get nightmare dreams, skin crawling, unrelenting anxiety.
I am reporting all of this because unlike any other part of human behavior, we have been able to dissect addiction in an ass-backwards way, i.e, from the behavior back to the neurobiology. And it has given us soooo much insight. The bottom line is that people like Megan need to be treated as people with aberrant neurobiology aberrant responses to stress, aberrant responses to DRUGS. And they should be characterized and individually treated and not cast as losers or deviants. They are unique human beings who need to be treated empathically, compassionately.
That said, I loathe and despise Megan’s parents. Both of them.
I’d just like to point out: Megan’s brother kept his hand on her shoulder throughout that entire intervention. I cannot imagine how powerful that was for her.
Three things. At the end, when Megan hugs her mom and says “I love you sooo much”, I thought, “Damn Megan, you are a better person than I am. Even before therapy you are able to speak to these people with love. It’s miraculous. I would have HATED that woman.
And that leads me to my second point: has her mother become a decent human being? It sounded at the end of the shoe that Ken had come to see the error of his ways (in contact with Megan daily), but Debbi? She needs to spend the WHOLE restr of her life making amends to her kids.
Finlly, that Aunt Jan character? Family friend, but acting as aunt? Did NOT appreciate her punitive attitude. So passive aggressive. Yes, you can live with e Megan, but I will punish you the whole tie yoou are here. Ken was a total jackass at the beginning of the show, but he was reachable. Jan and Debbie? Smothering in their self-righteousness.