Season 11 Episode 10
Courtney
Age: 20
Location: Miami, Florida
Addiction: Heroin
Update: Courtney Renee Ball tragically passed away on May 12, 2020. See notice here.
What’s memorable: This whole story is about women. Ok there’s the addict boyfriend who never actually speaks to the camera and the totally absent father who Courtney met when she was 10 and who quickly abused her and she never talked to again. But other than that, this is a story about a family of women horribly affected by their precious girl’s addiction. 20 years old with abscesses and scars all over, hooking for heroin. Also memorable: The crazy, breathless, on-the-go intervention and the surprising followup.
Official Synopsis: Nicknamed the “junkie princess” by her drug-abusing friends, Courtney, 20, injects heroin up to eight times a day and prostitutes herself to finance her own and her boyfriend’s addiction. But now Courtney’s mother, sister, and grandmother are planning an intervention in one last-ditch attempt to convince her to leave her boyfriend and accept treatment.
Original Air Date: March 2012
Interventionist: Donna
This is a reply to “M” in 2020. I’m sorry I missed your comments and want you to know that I was betrayed very negatively by Kimberly and my mom. Courtney was my life and she had me loving her every second of her life. We were very close and I had to work as a single mother but every minute I wasn’t working I was spending it with her. She was and still is my life. Yes I went through a year of depression but because of Kimberly getting me into a spinning class it changed my life. I would take Courtney to gymnastics class, cheerleading, dance and voice lessons. My boss let me leave work at 3pm and bring her to my office. She always had me and I was devastated the way I was portrayed. By the way I never blamed A&E or Donna for anything.
No one, Unless it is someone who has lost a child to addiction, should tell you how to love them and especially not make you feel guilty for doing the best you could. Intervention has taught me that so thank you for sharing your story
Charlene I just want to send my heartfelt condolences to you. Courtney’s story truly touched me and so many others on this forum. She seemed like a very lovable and kind spirited young lady. I’m so very sad addiction took that light from her. I empathize with your story. Depression is just as awful a disease as addiction is. Just like you explained in the episode in the 80s and 90s people didn’t openly ask for help or discuss it. Especially not new mothers and most women. I’m sure you did the best you could. Let Courtney now rest in peace and don’t second guess your parenting of her based on some strangers ignorant words. I wish you and the rest of your family well. Courtney’s spirit lives on. <3
Least Helpful Comment Ever, but here goes…
I have almost twenty years in recovery. I was born and raised around addicts and alcoholics and I have worked with them professionally…I’ve seen rehabs from five star to government run. Parents who walked away and parents who stayed. Millions of dollars and ten cents.
I don’t think anyone really has the answers, honestly. Part of the reason I stopped working in the recovery field is because I know I don’t! I cannot explain why I decided to recover and others didn’t. I don’t think I did anything profoundly different from others.
Perhaps the answer is not for us to know, but with other incurable diseases, to just love the person the best we can while they are here…and I’m sure you did.
Thank your honest and forthright insight regarding your experiences.
Hi. This might sound weird. I saw the documentary, and I think I’m Courtney’s half-brother. I met Courtney in NC. Is there any way I can talk with you privately?
I remember in the 90’s back when I was a kid they we’re still junkies, but at least they were functional. They would fix your car. Or help take out your trash. Or rake the leaves on the front yard, and was still getting locked up. These junkies now are just lazy ass thieves that will go as low as selling their first Born child and no one is locking them up!! They have “safe injection buildings” basically telling them that it’s okay to do drugs smh. I dont know about y’all but the only way I help a junkie is to shame them into getting help. Maybe if someone locked her up or shamed her she would still be here today. Ijs
If you don’t think selling children or stealing was a thing “back in the 90s” then you are woefully ignorant. This comment is so appreciably tone deaf I’d almost guess the ghost of Nancy Reagan herself wrote it. I’d hazard to bet that your favorite pastime is speculating wildly about the day to day goings on of your neighbors while bitterly spying through the blinds and not lifting a damn finger to help any person struggling with addiction in your community.
Since it appears that you came here mainly to broadcast your pathetically uninformed opinions, you probably missed the fact that Courtney’s mom, sister, and friends still visit the comments page here. What you’re saying is unconscionable, and you should be absolutely ashamed of yourself.
If shame actually was effective in treating addiction, there would be no addicts. They all feel tremendous shame. It actually fuels their need to use. Safe injection sites don’t condone drug use but they do provide a safe place, clean needles and help in case of an overdose, for people who aren’t yet able to stop using. It’s called “harm reduction” and its benefits are researched and documented.
If you are going to feel a need to comment on addiction, particularly in a place where people with addictions and the people who love them, regularly read and post, I would respectfully suggest that you educate yourself on the science and medicine and addiction. In the meantime, I suppose you will just have to take out your own trash and rake your own leaves instead of relying on free labor from people struggling with a life threatening illness. I hope it’s not too much for you.
Hi Elizabeth. I’m Courtney’s mom. I agree shaming someone is not good. I always accepted Courtney and never made her feel bad because I knew she had a disease. I had many so call experts tell me to name talk to her or visit her. Her sister would not speak to me because she really think shame would help her. I loved coming no matter what but always wanted to get her help. I realized that the so called experts don’t know how to treat individuals.
I read a book when I had Courtney at 30 years old that really helped me a lot- it’s called “Healing the Shame that Binds Me.
I was shamed by my mother my entire life.
Hi Linda. Me and Kimberly and my entire family plus cousins have tried to help Courtney. It finally did turn into shaming her and having nothing to do with her. But I couldn’t do that anymore because all that matters is saving Courtney’s life so I stopped listening to anything except my own heart. I just loved her and didn’t listen to so called experts. Each child is different and advice given is well meaning but not always best. I have been through every stage of trying.to help my sweet baby girl and I decided to just love her no matter what but always trying to help her. We were so close and she was almost ready for help. Everyone is different and shaming might work for some people but not everyone. I sold my house in Miami so I could get her away from her drugs but she would not come with me to South Carolina- I spent every dime I had to help her in rehabs etc but she left treatment every single time. I would take her place if I could. I miss her so much 🙏
You should be shamed for being an idiot and thinking your opinion matters to ANYONE.
Dizzy, if you are able, please delete this comment; full of both disinformation and disgusting rhetoric. Baffling how ignorant some people can still be in the 2020s. This site has some of the best people who come together to show support and respect for PWUD, those in recovery, loved ones, and those who have sadly passed away. Comments like this have no place here.
Charlene, if you get this, I want to tell you that I just saw your family’s story on Intervention and needed to know what happened to Courtney as Intervention doesn’t do follow ups or try again when the person is actually ready for the treatment as far as I know. I learned about the, “Marchmen Act,” when I was in nursing school last year and did my rotation at a detox center. I’m not sure if I agree with it as it forces a person into treatment that they are not ready for and doesn’t have a high success rate down here in Florida where we have it. The whole time I was watching the episode I knew that they would pull that as soon as I saw that y’all lived here. My daughter and I have been watching intervention lately and we don’t like how they don’t update. It’s like they leave the people who didn’t do the show as planned behind with no hope or help. After seeing your daughter and then looking her up because she and your entire family touched us deeply, I thought I might reach out in hopes that you may want to email and talk so I can get your opinion on it. No pressure. I just really feel deeply saddened by your situation and your family’s story. Regardless, know that there are people who have you and your daughter in their hearts and prayers. ❤️🙏🏼
Thank you so much for your comments. It means a lot to me. If you want to talk I would love to. The intervention was twisted because everyone including Kimberly blames me since Courtney was a little girl. I was always there for my girls and never dated or remarried since I was 30 years old.
Charlene, if you get this, I want to tell you that I just saw your family’s story on Intervention and needed to know what happened to Courtney as Intervention doesn’t do follow ups or try again when the person is actually ready for the treatment as far as I know. I learned about the, “Marchmen Act,” when I was in nursing school last year and did my rotation at a detox center. I’m not sure if I agree with it as it forces a person into treatment that they are not ready for and doesn’t have a high success rate down here in Florida where we have it. The whole time I was watching the episode I knew that they would pull that as soon as I saw that y’all lived here. My daughter and I have been watching intervention lately and we don’t like how they don’t update. It’s like they leave the people who didn’t do the show as planned behind with no hope or help. After seeing your daughter and then looking her up because she and your entire family touched us deeply, I thought I might reach out in hopes that you may want to email and talk so I can get your opinion on it. No pressure. I just really feel deeply saddened by your situation and your family’s story. Regardless, know that there are people who have you and your daughter in their hearts and prayers. ❤️🙏🏼 ells.bells719@gmail.com
this story was haunting. courtney was a young beautiful soul that seemed beyond lost in her addiction. I wish she could have been clean long enough to see how wonderful life can be on the other side. I hope her family can find peace💜
I want Courtney back and I miss her so much
Hello Charlene, I want you to know that I have prayed for you. I beg you to seek God, only he can heal all your pain.
You can search for this church on FB as: Metro Miami ICC.
I suffered many years of depression but God took me out of that terrible disease. 💓
Seeing her struggling makes me wish I could help. That stuff is just too much. Too much for anybody to tangle with. My friend passed away in 08 from Alcohol + others. I Had not been around that crowd since 89. But he was still consuming and homeless from time to time in our Small Town. Everybody had helped him out but he just kept on.
To Charlene, I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my sister to methadone/methamphetamine toxicity in 2015. I also struggle with major depressive disorder so my heart goes out to you. I am also my mothers only remaining child, so I implore you to live and remember your other daughter, Kim.
Awe thank you so much. Despite my depression I took good care of Courtney and Kimberly. The show depicts me in the wrong way. My mom and daughter Kimberly blamed me for what Courtney was going through. The truth is I love Courtney more than anything and I was always there for my girls every day and spent every minute with them after work I was a single mom and dads gave me no child support even though the court ordered them too. Nobody is perfect and I did have my moments of sadness and depression but it wasn’t like it sounded like all the time. I hope you hang in there because I understand he hard it is.
I re watched this today a little over a year after Courtney passed trying to make sense of it . It was enlightening how extremely intelligent and Brave Courtney Truly Was when she was talking about her prostitution she described Disassociation perfectly she had to get high before meeting a client to not feel him touching her , Grabbing , her , skin to skin contact : a lot of prostitutes That I’ve researched describe this exactly the way she did . What was most alarming was that her “ soulmate “ Jeff never faced prosecution for rape of a minor and endangerment of a minor and for solicitation of a minor for prostitution… that’s the biggest question mark ? And add to that what happened to jeff ? I bet Jeff and all of her clients were not in attendance at her funeral , they killed the poor girl after all . The other upsetting thing is that her interventionist Donna Did Not Handle Her Intervention well . If Her Sister Kim And Kim’s partner had lead the intervention then I believe she would have gone to treatment and gotten help or at least a BETTER Chance at it . Donna Basically said Courtney you don’t do this you go to jail
Then literally chasing her and threatening her .. I myself have been clean off cocaine since 11-11-2009 and had to go to rehab but if someone approached me in such an intimidating way that Donna did I wouldn’t have gone . It’s sad when she left she had 9 more years on this earth 🌎 but went straight back to heroin and prostitution. I just wish someone along the way could’ve helped her – prayers to the family for their continued comfort, strength and support. You are an angel now Courtney. Fly High in God’s light .
I believe that although the intervention was not the best, the reality is that Courtney was never ready for sobriety. When the intervention took place in 2012, it was obvious that her relationship with her mother was still fractured. Courtney had not forgiven her mother for her childhood since she felt very abandoned. There are many more things to analyze in this case, the only thing left is to pray for their mother and sister so that they can take their pain in the best way, my best wishes for them.
I watched Courtney’s episode again yesterday. I still cannot believe she’s gone. I was so rooting for her to get well. What a tragic life for such a sweet girl.
Does anyone have a link to her ep?
If you have Xfinity you can purchase it on there.
You can download the roku app and even if you don’t have a Roku you can search intervention and watch episodes signed in as a guest. I’m not sure when exactly, but some time before you watch something it will ask you if you want to sign in, make an account, or continue as a guest. If you continue as a guest you don’t have to sign up or anything. Hope that helps.
https://therokuchannel.roku.com/watch/79f128ee78fb56b6a70e45879106a289
Only just watched this episode. If someone really has a death wish you cannot force then to stop. I lost my brother the same way, he was suicidal and did it slowly over 4 years, going out with a bang as he called it.
I don’t think Donna was the problem, she was doing her job. The issue for he was her snobby grandmother. Worried over appearances and what the neighbours would think. If that was my granddaughter I wouldn’t care less!
I just wish her mother had gotten help earlier, sorted herself out and been a proper parent. The sister was amazing, she has nothing to feel guilt about. I know how she feels, as long as you tried, you can feel happy you did everything you could.
I’m not surprised Courtney wanted to get away from it all, poor kid felt so alone. She desperately needed her mum.
A&E aren’t responsible for failings, it’s easier to blame others, than look at yourself, that’s human nature.
What a mess…….
Within the first five minutes of the episode, the grandmother says that she can’t feel empathy. That brings a wellspring of pain and damage, including emotionally neglecting Courtney‘s mother
where do i watch her episode?
I know Courtney. Though we are all responsible for our actions, her boyfriend Jeff is / was very bad news for her. She started dating him at 15-16 when he was in his 20s! Legal action should have been taken against him, although FL has a “Romeo & Juliet law” that allows age gap relationships, which sucks. If he was under 24, it would have been legal. YUCK. Not to mention he was pimping her out while she believed he was deeply in love with her. He’s a predator…
Such a heartbreaking episode. Courtney’s family are in my thoughts and I wish them the best during what must be indescribable pain. RIP
RIP. no ones talking about her boy friend though, he should really be in trouble.
I saw the Courtney episode a few years ago, now I read that she is dead and it fills me with deep pain.
first I would like to give my condolences to the family.
Courtney’s story is very sad, I would like to understand why legal action was never taken against the father, for me the rape was what triggered the addiction. I have no words from the boyfriend, just a loser and abuser.
Courtney is now in a better place and I’m sure her soul rests. Rest in peace precious girl.
I just watched this episode for the first time…so heartbreaking. I saw a lot of unresolved issues in the family. Grandma was a very “blocked” person needless to say…it’s no coincidence that mom struggled with depression. And this is not meant to be disrespectful in any way…I work with children who have mild to severe intellectual disabilities and I couldn’t help but wonder if that was the case with Courtney. She had the sweet affect that many of my students have.
I wondered the same thing about her dad, he deserves to pay for that.
Sounds like Courtney would never say what actually happened.
My heart broke to see Courtney passed away. I just saw her episode again a few days ago. I also had no idea she was from Decatur; my husband grew up there and we live about a hour away now. I’m a recovering opiate addict still in MAT treatment.
To Courtney’s family, I pray y’all can find peace. My thoughts and prayers are with y’all!
Kim and Charlene and the rest of Courtney’s family,
I’m so sorry for your loss, this breaks my heart as I have also held out hope for Courtney and wished that she would get better. I cannot imagine the pain of this, I’m so sorry. Kim, you were and are such a magnificent sister. You remind me of my own big sister, and women like you are one in a million. You and Charlene both did all you could, and this isn’t anyone’s fault. I hope you all find peace in this sorrow.
courtney’s story has always broken my heart and i always hoped it would end differently. if any family or friends read this, please know i have so much empathy for you, as i had for her, and may you all find healing. <3
I too just viewed this episode and while I have viewed ‘Intervention’ many times, as others have already mentioned, Courney’s story reached out and grabbed me. More like tore my at my heart. Sadly, I didn’t realize the episode date, then, just discovered the recent news. For some reason, that tear progressed to nearly broken. I am in tears as this is being written. A lost soul. (We can, however, hope redeemed.) I am to lighting a candle for her.
P.S. to her sister Kim. You were a saint and I hope you know you did everything you could. I hope you and your partner are still happily together.
I’ve never watched Intervention before as I’ve avoided it as I’m a recovering addict myself (figured it might be a trigger). I had been watching A&E in the AM and then still had it on in afternoon in the background as I worked from home in the afternoon. I became riveted by this episode before I realized that it was Intervention. When it was over, I felt compelled to see if there was any update on how Courtney was doing today. Sadly, I found out. So sorry to the family for their loss and condolences to all who knew her.
Kim and Family,
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of your babysister. I truly prayed she accepted the help and you got your sister back.
My condolences and prayers to you.
❤ Denise
I just saw her episode, so sad.
rip babygirl <3
Kim, I am so so sorry for your loss.
Kim. I am so very sad to hear of your sister’s passing. What happened? She was a baby? I just wonder if she was alone because it breaks my heart that she is no long here.
I always hoped she’d finally comment here and say she was alive and survived and has a new life. I’m so sorry. I’m praying for her.
This is Courtney’s sister, Kim. Courtney is still alive, barely. She is still addicted to many more things than just heroin, lives on the streets of Miami, is a prostitute in Overtown and now suffers from episodic, drug-induced psychosis. Today is her birthday; she is 29 and my heart is broken. The years since the episode aired have been painful. Thank you for everyone who watched, who cared, who still reach out to her here. Every time I speak to her, I beg her to not give up hope. I still have hope.
Kim, I’m so sorry to hear this. We were all wishing her the best, and hoping she would pull through. I’m glad to hear you still have hope. You are an amazing sister.
my condolences. Really sad to hear Courtney just recently passed away.
Kim. I am so very sad to hear of your sister’s passing. What happened? She was a baby? I just wonder if she was alone because it breaks my heart that she is no long here.
Hi Kim – I just watched the episode and felt for you the most. You were given so much responsibility at such a young age and took on more that any young person should ever be expected. Your love and nurturing for “a very troubled” Courtney was so evident during the episode. It seemed from the episode that you did everything you could to help her and then some. I hope you’re well and married now.
Just wanted to update and tell everyone she posted a recent photo and she’s doing Great! Never stop praying. Out of respect like Dizzy has said I will be unable to share any info where to find her. But as of now she’s doing well 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to update a bunch of strangers. So happy to hear she is doing well.
Oh I’m just delighted to hear this! Thank you for posting. Praying for continued success to Courtney and all the rest of us in recovery. God bless!