Intervention TV Show
We receive many calls asking us about the intervention TV show and what our opinion is. Although we think the intervention show is great, one of the things to point out is that the intervention television show has the luxury of performing all of their interventions without any denial on the addict or alcoholics part. The biggest problem we face in the real world of drug and 
alcohol intervention is that all of our clients think they don't have a problem or if they do they do not think it is bad enough to warrant an inpatient treatment center. Most of this is because they do not have to look at the fact their is a problem or they need help. The intervention TV show has the luxury of doing an intervention after a movie camera has followed the addict or alcoholic around for 30 days, kind of hard to deny the problem at that point. Another thing to point out is that when they are performing the actual drug and alcohol intervention and reading the letters to the addict or alcoholic they are a little harsher than in an actual drug and alcohol intervention in the real world. If you notice, when they are reading the letters they are good letters, however they are also delivering the consequences at the same time, which in most cases angers the addict or alcoholic. It is in our opinion that this teeters on the line of the Vernon Johnson model that we believe is less effective than a more loving caring systemic model approach. We should not be pushing the addict or the alcoholic out the door so quickly. Unlike the intervention TV show, in the real world of intervention there should be a balance of boundaries, tough love and emotions. The intervention TV show does the best it can given the small time slot it has.
A&E Intervention Show
When performing unscripted intervention we spend approximately 5-7 hours with a family in preparation before the intervention itself. The interventionist on the A&E show most certainly do too, it just does not have the time to show it. The A&E intervention TV show to a viewer can make an intervention out to be just about talking an addict or an alcoholic into treatment with some firm letters when an intervention is about much more than that. The A&E intervention show has done a wonderful job of bringing not only the importance of intervention to the public eye but also the effectiveness of an intervention. Like the intervention TV show, almost all interventions are successful. Being primarily about the family, the drug and alcohol intervention itself brings the addict or alcoholic to the point in their life where they need to be to want to change. The intervention show itself proves more than anything that action can be taken and you do not need to sit back and do nothing or wait for your loved one to change themselves. Like the show displays, you do not have to wait for them to hit bottom or want it, you can bring them to that point on your terms rather than theirs.
Intervention Show
Family First Intervention works with many treatment centers that have been featured on the intervention TV show. With our initial phone consultation we educate the family on all aspect of intervention and also assist the family in preparing a short term & long term treatment plan. One of the most important things that I mention to people about the A&E intervention TV show is that if you notice when the interventionist gets the addict or alcoholic to agree to attend the treatment center they always escort them a great distance from home and on a plane. This actually is whats done in the real world of treatment and intervention. The farther away from home and the longer they stay in treatment the better off they will be in the long run. In addition, there is almost never a substitute for long term aftercare. 30 days in and out of treatment almost never works.
