From sports to academics, Robin was the apple of his parents' eyes. He did everything to impress them, even forgoing his childhood dream of becoming a pilot. Once in college, Robin soon learned the pressure to be perfect could be washed away with a few nice drinks. And he soon
Abbie was a young mom with dreams of going to college for photography. But she was hiding a dark secret from her family. Her boyfriend, and father of her daughter, had become physically and mentally abusive.
On the surface, Jackie had it all: a large tight knit family, a devoted husband, two beautiful sons, and a nursing career. But unbeknownst to anyone, Jackie found herself stuck in a loveless marriage. For 15 years she put on the happy face, but gradually began to drink and before
Hailing from a small seaside town in Nova Scotia, Barry, 50, was born into a life of alcoholism and turmoil. The victim of childhood abuse at the hands of a close relative, Barry learned to drink with his alcoholic mother as a boy. Both were seeking a way to kill
At the age of 16, Holley witnessed her mother cheating on the father she adored. The strain between mother and daughter never eased and Holley, now 28, acted out through raging alcohol and cocaine abuse.
The only child of a single mother and world-class fiddle player, Alex was surrounded by music from birth. His mother married when Alex was five, but after a few years the marriage deteriorated and life became difficult at home. Friction with his stepfather left Alex increasingly isolated and he turned
Five years ago Robby came out to his wife of twenty-nine years and two sons as transgender, exploding their world and Robby’s own in the process. Already a heavy drinker, Robby’s drinking intensified after coming out. Now, terrified of losing her wife, and being alone for the first time in
A 44-year-old singer and songwriter, Phillip used music to escape the pain of an unstable childhood. He gained fame due to his charisma and musical talents, but Phillip now consumes up to four pints of peppermint schnapps a day.
Season 17, Episode 3 Joshua B. Age: 34 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina Addiction: Hand Sanitizer What’s Memorable: None of the people in this episode are in denial. Not Josh, not his family, not his ex-wife. They all know exactly what’s up, they know Josh is killing himself, and they’re willing to
In three years, Diana’s alcoholism has gotten so bad that it has led her to being diagnosed with Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, an alcohol-related brain disorder, which recently landed her in the hospital with temporary paralysis and a feeding tube… which she poured vodka into!
Kristie dreamed of being a museum curator and was getting her masters degree at Johns Hopkins University. But a childhood diagnosis of OCD caused by anxiety, worsened and caused her to drop out of school and begin to self medicate with alcohol.
Season 15, Episode 14 Brian N. Age: 43 Location: Miami, Oklahoma Addiction: Alcohol What’s Memorable: How much Oklahoma City still affects him, the strength it must have taken to do the job he did, his wife having to drive herself to the hospital when she was in labor because he was passed out.
Season 15, Episode 12 Daniel M. Age: 43 Location: Laguna Niguel, California Addiction: Alcohol (vodka) What’s Memorable: This one is painful. Taking care of someone who could literally die if they don’t get alcohol into their system is beyond exhausting and constantly terrifying. Making sure they have enough alcohol in order to stay alive another day while knowing
A successful businesswoman who became a multimillionaire in her 20's, Kacy tragically lost her infant child to SIDS. She then lost her fortune, her marriage and a healthy relationship with her surviving children as she spiralled into binge drinking.
Musically gifted, intelligent, and beautiful, everyone assumed Kaeleen was destined for great things. But what nobody knew was that from age four to eleven, Kaeleen was methodically sexually abused. Now Kaeleen lives in her own world of mental anguish. To numb the pain, she self medicates with opiates and alcohol. Her
Season 14, Episode 11 David Age: 26 Location: Roseville, California Addiction: Meth and alcohol What’s memorable: His meth-induced paranoia and psychosis, how much his friend Jessie loves him and would do for him, the bizarre, enfuriating intervention and the awesome followup. Ken was amazing in this one. And by amazing I mean “Good god how
Season 14, Episode 8 Bryceton Age: 41 Location: Brandon, Florida Addiction: Alcohol and spice (I just had to add a new category for this first time in years) What’s memorable: Well that was quite the ride. Bryceton seems like a pretty fun and interesting person trapped in the life of an addict, treating people like crap and in
Season 14, Episode5 Daniel Age: 29 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Addiction: Alcohol, some meth What’s memorable: This kid had a rough life, no surprise he drinks too much. But wow does he drink too much. And the way he gets when he’s drunk: self-absorbed, messy, emotional, intimidating, dominant. I’ve known a lot of people who
Season 14, Episode 4 Theresa Age: 43 Location: Raceland, Louisiana Addiction: Alcohol What’s memorable: She’s been an alcoholic for 25 years, suffers from cirrhosis, drinks beer from her bed all day long unless she goes to the one bar in town that hasn’t 86’d her yet. The argument with her daughter was hard
Season 12, Episode 15 Sandi Age: 64 Location: North Aurora, Illinois Addiction: Alcohol (gin) What’s memorable: The relationship with her adult daughter and the things they say to each other – disturbing and heartbreaking. After watching the episode a 2nd time after finally getting my own mother into rehab only to have
Ed, 53, and Bettina, 49, had a picture-perfect life, including three adoring kids, a dream home, sports cars, motorcycles, and a respected place in their church community. But six years ago, Ed made a bad career move and ended up unemployed.
Season 10, Episode 6 Penny Lee Age: 48 Location: Waipahu, Hawaii Addiction: Alcohol (beer) What’s memorable: The crazytown drunken rants, how she quit her long-term job because she wanted to drink, how guilty her son feels about going to live with their dad, how she’s forced to babysit her grandson
From an early age, Anthony's father made him feel worthless. His parents divorced, and his mother remarried, but she was still unhappy and turned to alcohol and drugs. It was little wonder, then, that Anthony began drinking at age 13. Another blow came when Anthony's younger brother died of leukemia.
Season 7 Episode 7 Jackie Age: 52 Location: Salisbury, North Carolina? Addiction: Alcohol (wine) What’s memorable: It’s sad how Jackie says she isn’t an alcoholic but hides her wine bottles around the house and wraps them up when she throws them out so she doesn’t have to hear the clinking. Not to
Season 10, Episode 5 Larry Age: 32 Location: East Orange, New Jersey Addiction: Alcohol (Brandy) What’s memorable: The fact that he beats his wife when he’s drunk, and she’s so in love with him and won’t ever leave him. And that failed intervention was a doozy. Too bad everyone couldn’t have gotten
Season 12, Episode 19 Sean Age: 32 Location: Salem, Massachussettes Addiction: Alcohol (vodka) What’s memorable: Sean is one very likable dude, that’s what I’ll remember. Also, the condescending, good-life-choices brother, the co-dependent “Drunk Sean is who I fell in love with” wife Jules, the family that all denies that what Sean says
Season 12, Episode 10 Cher Age: 50 Location: Dana Point, California Addiction: Alcohol (vodka) What’s memorable: Cher’s alcoholism seems to have made her a pretty awful person to be around. She’s just so mean and needy and sensitive, so desperate for attention; the things she does and says to try and
Season 12, Episode 9 Ryan Age: 25 Location: Saugerties, New York Addiction: Alcohol (beer) What’s memorable: Damn. Now THAT’S an Intervention. Memorable stuff in Ryan’s story – being disabled, his good deeds, his terribly low sense of self-worth, his pregnant fiance getting arrested during his fight – but that Intervention, that