Season 21, Episode 1
Melanie
Age: 25
Location: Sudbury, Ontario
Addiction: Crack
Official Synopsis: Melanie was just eight months old when her dad committed suicide. Her mother’s subsequent trauma went untreated, and she struggled raising her three kids. Melanie, the youngest, suffered the most. She began acting out and getting in trouble to gain attention. When she was nine, she was diagnosed and medicated for ADHD. Then, at 14, Melanie was introduced to crack cocaine by an older boyfriend. She was instantly hooked and ended up in rehab at 15. Melanie got clean and turned things around, going back to school and becoming a Personal Support Worker – a vocation that she loved. At 19, shortly after a breakup, Melanie found out she was pregnant and her ex-boyfriend wanted no part of being a father. She loved her son and was a good mother but, four months after giving birth, she became depressed and starting using crack cocaine again. Now, five years later, Melanie is saddled with a severe addiction. Without an intervention, Melanie will lose custody of her son, or worse, lose her life.
Date Aired: July 20, 2020 in US, originally aired as in Intervention Canada episode on October 20, 2018 on CBC Documentary Channel
Interventionist: Andrew
Yay so happy it’s back to the old style of intervention episodes! Also im currently watching and I’m wondering if anyone caught on to where this episode was located? She mentioned something about the one dealer she got from was the cheapest in Sudbury.
Hahah just as i posted this a sign showed on the screen Hanmer which is located in sudbury. Thats where im from
I am THRILLED! I saw the promo for the new season a week ago and thought “how do I get in touch with Dizzy?!?!?” They’ve seriously UNDER-promoted it, which is a shame as its quality television. Hopefully it’s a good, long season (and not comprised of “previously unseen” episodes of Intervention Canada).
I actually think this is an Intervention Canada episode since it took place in Canada, Andrew was the interventionist, and at the end of the credits it said, “A production of Canada”.
I haven’t gotten to watch yet, but here’s a synopsis from an episode of Intervention Canada with a Melanie. Does this sound familiar?
Melanie Oct. 20, 2018
Melanie was introduced to crack-cocaine at 14. She caught clean and got her life back together, but fell into a depression four months after her son was born, and turned back to drugs. Without an intervention, she’ll lose custody of her son.
Yeah this is definitely Intervention Canada, the episode aired October 20, 2018 on CBC Documentary channel. Here’s the promo from the IC Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/InterventionCanada/videos/536615756766635/
Thanks for thinking of me Rob! If you ever want to get in touch my email is dizzy.buzzkill @ gmail. com
Thanks Dizzy! I might just take you up on that sometime. Also, thank you thank you THANK YOU for all of the hard work you put into this site.
Yes, it definitely looks like it’s from the archives and she became even more criminally involved afterward. https://www.chch.com/a-woman-wanted-in-a-string-of-alleged-thefts-in-hamilton-was-arrested-in-toronto/
I couldn’t find an outcome of the charges or any more current information. I hope the best for her and her family.
I’m so glad the they are back with more episodes. This show made me want to go to rehab, so glad I did.
Stormie, I hope you’re doing well! Many people out here care, I admire you and am sending good energy your way! 💪🏽❤️🏆
Is this the same Melanie? https://www.chch.com/a-woman-wanted-in-a-string-of-alleged-thefts-in-hamilton-was-arrested-in-toronto/
It is, yes.
Lovely. She’s stealing wallets from people in hospital now. I really hope her family gets some kind of peace eventually.
Oh my goodness, Meela thank you for this update even though it is heartbreaking. I googled, and it’s definitely her. It certainly illustrates how horribly powerful the disease of addiction can be. I’m so sorry for her, her family, and especially her precious son who did nothing to deserve this. 💔 It often takes many attempts to get sober, I’m still hopeful Melanie can pull herself out of this tailspin. I’m in awe of everyone who has overcome this disease.
yes sadly
As much as I love this show it truly can be heartwrenching at times. Having just watched this episode I was so optimistic. She seemed to be doing great at the treatment center and somewhere hidden deep below all the drugs she really did seem to care for her son.
I knew though as soon as I saw that she left the faculty what would be next… Yet relapse.
What I didn’t expect was this. Unfortunately she might be a trainwreck at this point and simply never get beyond it.
I was so excited at the end of the episode, it looked like Melanie would be, as the counselor said, a “success story”. She looked great. But then, boom, it said she quit rehab and relapsed. It was so disappointing. I feel so bad for her son…it looked like he loved his mother so much, but his mother loved the crack pipe more. Sad he has to be a part of that.
i know. I am left with such a feeling of loss at this. She DOES love her son, but not enough.
This news story is from 2 days ago (July 22, 2020.) Melanie was in jail for a long while and seems to be doing better upon release. The article states she now weighs 150 pounds (she weighed 85 upon admission) and is getting substance abuse treatment as well as mental health treatment for PTSD and DID. Sadly, she also talks about being controlled and pimped by a human trafficking ring. I hope for her continued recovery and a successful reunion with her young son and family.
https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/runaway-train-bound-to-crash/amp
I really truly enjoyed Andrew as the interventionist. I hope Melanie eventually finds it in her to change for Kaleb, her family, and most importantly herself.
I don’t think she has a rock bottom. Reading that news article about what happened to her almost made me cry. There is nothing deeper than that.
I believe this is her last chance. If she will mess it up again, she’ll either die from crack or someone will end her life. This whole thing is absolutely tragic.
I am not much better than most ppl on this show except for the fact u don’t a use my loved ones to make them drive into to high crime areas to get drugs and use in fro t of them.in some states the vehiles can be seized because it was used in the commission of a crime. It doesn’t matter if its her moms car who’s not using drugs just helping her daughter to get medicine.
Then theses parents say they would do anything in the world for their kid (after they get high) but won’t even pay the kid any attention before they get dope first. If I had kids I’m sure I’d be the same way.
But I actually want to talk about the real star of the show,her friend ashley. She is beautiful beyond belief, like the vision that first set fire to the stars. On top of being how beautiful she is she has a heart of gold for helping her friend.if IF I wasn’t married to a beautiful girl like Ashley I would have to search for her.
Dude this is pretty creepy, maybe don’t talk about searching for people you saw on TV because they’re beautiful.
Agreed, Dizzy! You think a frequent watcher of Intervention would realize how detrimental such objectification and exploitation is..
Dude what? What’s with the creeps that watch this show looking for love?
This episode was heartbreaking! As someone who found sobriety 10 years ago I can say that it truly is 1 day at a time. In the beginning I pushed back on support meetings, now I go to meetings because I TRULY enjoy them. I have never left a meeting feeling it was a waste of time, I leave always feeling such gratitude that by the grace of my higher power I am still walking a clean & sober path. My heart has such sadness that Melanie couldn’t hold onto her sobriety. I, along with all addicts I’m sure, completely understand the control that drugs or alcohol have over us. I will keep Melanie along with all those who are suffering with their sobriety in my prayers. If you are struggling, find a meeting! You don’t have to say 1 word, just listen with an open heart & mind. You could not be in a safer environment where you are not judged, you are supported. 1 second, 1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day take it slow. Give yourself a break and realize that you are worth saving!
😞 Just read the article below. Really hoping she doesn’t take this release for granted. Her son deserves better. Sad to hear she’s endured even more trauma
https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/runaway-train-bound-to-crash/amp
“ The court had heard that Beskorowany had been “branded” by one of her human traffickers on the right ankle, producing a serious infection, and that following her bail release early in 2020, she was viciously sexually assaulted, producing internal damage that will require surgery to correct. Beskorowany was also moved around the province by the human traffickers, which resulted in charges in the other four cities, and was involved in a brothel in Barrie…”
“young aboriginal woman”. Is this an accurate description?
I was wondering that myself, about her being labeled as an aboriginal woman. It is mentioned in another article, so apparently so. I’m guessing she is less than 1/4 aboriginal as it would be hard to identify her as such just by looking at her. It is surprising that was never brought up in the episode since indigenous people are genetically more prone to addiction. Very interesting. Here’s hoping she is doing better.
I know at the beginning of the episode her mother spoke to her an another language I didn’t recognize. Is that related maybe?
Mia: I doubt it, the language they spoke was French, although it’s totally possible to be Indigenous and understand French. Troughout the episode I heard typical French words such as “ma tante” and “allo”. Her mom’s and aunt’s names are old French names as well. I think Melanie is Franco-ontarian.
The picture of Melanie’s dad looked like he was indigenous. So I think her mum is French and her dad was indigenous.
Such an ignorant post. Who are you to say Melanie isn’t Indigenous (whether that be FN, Metis or Inuit), just because she presents as white?
Blood quantum is a colonial and racist idea. As well is your comment about Indigenous people being more prone to addiction. Educate yourself on Canada’s history.
I G N O R A N T & U N E D U C A T E D.
You’ve got to take those stories with a grain of salt. A lot goes on in the streets and when they get to the courtroom anyone facing time becomes a victim. You get a creative enough lawyer and you end up with a good enough sympathetic story to get you out of serious prison time. Say a pimp beat you, made you steal yadda yadda. Sounded like she owed someone a lot of money and ended up way in over her head to repay the debt. So she ended up getting “assaulted” which as screwed up as it sounds is considered “Street justice” depending on how severely she was trying to screw her dealer out of paying them back. Hopefully she spent enough time behind bars to get sober and escape that life for good. Her Instagram shows a picture of her talking about being sober so hopefully she experienced enough to never go back into that life. She might not even be able to return to that life safely if part of her release deal was to give up names of people involved with the so called sex ring.So that might also have something to do with her making sure she stays clean.
*Reposting my comment because I think I put the wrong email and made typos in the previous one LOL I am watching the episode and typing at the same time my b*
A lot was upsetting about this episode but at one specific point I was getting upset WITH Melanie and it was when she was panicking and having bad anxiety at her sons birthday party and her friend kept trying to touch her and get close to her space and just KEPT touching her even after Melanie repeatedly said to stop. And then her friend was crying to her mom like “she won’t let me touch her!!” And I get it’s hard but like, when I get bad anxiety I don’t like being touched either. I don’t like people close to my face ESPECIALLY after I tell them to stop, so Melanie was completely valid in reacting how she was! A lot people during anxiety attacks DO NOT want to be touched and crowded. I know the friend meant well, but you have to listen when people having anxiety tell you to stop touching them. Also, I’m a recovering cocaine addict (almost a year clean) and whenever I did too much I would get bad anxiety just like that, and the LAST thing I wanted was to be touched by anyone, it’s like overwhelming and terrible. So yeah that’s my opinion on that lol
Poor m
Melanie got caught up in sex trafficking and crimes she committed. She is supposed!y living w her mom again. She is such a beautiful person.
The entire article link would not copy. Go to https://www.thesudburystar.com and lookup ‘Runaway train bound to crash’
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.innisfiltoday.ca/amp/police-beat/victim-of-human-trafficking-ring-convicted-in-local-stealing-spree-2602926
Looks like her brother passed recently. Prayers for the family.
https://obittree.com/obituary/ca/ontario/sudbury/lougheed–funeral-home/shawn-beskorowany/4336411/
Andrew is a stellar interventionist!
Just checked out her Instagram and she looks happy and healthy. She is with her kids and engaged.
Does anybody find it kind of weird that Andrew smokes? I’m not familiar with the process but I find it strange that an interventionist has an addiction, albeit one with very little real world harm.
agreed. everyone still needs something, and that is his.
Most of the interventionists are addicted to the recovery program, if that makes sense. One thing I don’t like about AA and most addiction treatment methods is that they basically have you trade in one addiction for another, and not actually uncover what mental trauma/chemical reactions are causing you to numb out on substances.
that totally makes sense! very insightful, and must get to the root cause!
I am so happy you mentioned this. Nicotine is a drug too. Now, not that that matters really, as understanding of recovery and harm reduction has evolved, and admittedly yes, nicotine usually is not going to destroy your life the same way hard drugs can. However, considering intervention is completely abstinence based/AA, it’s definitely hypocritical to be smoking cigarettes. He’s still a fantastic interventionist though.
Who cares!? They’re cigarettes. Everyone has a vice; I’m a smoker too and recently sober from alcohol abuse of over 15 years. People need to stop judging smokers; ESPECIALLY when they have the gall to say to your face, “You need to stop smoking, it’s going to kill you. It’s so bad for you, etc etc.” It’s always a customer from my liquor store too that says it while I’m on break. I just look at them, point at their paper bag full of booze and say “Well that’s going to kill you, so maybe mind your own business.”
Just wanted to come on her and say, though it was in 2021, Melanie was featured in a podcast called ‘She Matters’ where she talks about her journey and what she calls a “second chance at life”!
That’s awesome! Wishing her the best
Just wanted to come on her and say, though it was in 2021, Melanie was featured in a podcast called ‘She Matters’ where she talks about her journey and what she calls a “second chance at life”!
I found Melanie’s instagram and it looks like she’s doing amazing! Looks like she got married and had another son. She’s very recently active on it too and she looks super healthy and happy. Elated for her!
I’m rooting for her too. I just rewatched her episode and I actually found Andrew the interventionist to be really condescending, almost like he was talking down to her. I’m not a fan of his, if it were my intervention I would choose Geri (RIP) or Sylvia.
Oh my gosh, Geri passed away?! I had no idea! She was my favorite one too and really did a great job of talking to people and being understanding and knowledgeable, yet firm and convincing. That’s so sad, may she rest in peace. I love Sylvia too and didn’t know she was featured on intervention until recently.
@Alexandria
Geri was my favourite too.
https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/timescolonist/name/geri-bemister-obituary?id=53268912