TLC will begin airing a new TV series this week called “Addicted.”
The series begins Wednesday, March 17 at 10/9c. Read about it here.
Please join us for a chat discussion about the first episode on Thursday, March 19 at 8/7c in the chat room at junkjunk!
When I first wrote about the planned series here, Peggy from the blog Helplessly Hoping left an interesting comment about her communication with the star of the show, “interventionist” Kristina Wandzilak. Read her comment here.
As I wrote to Peggy in a reply to her comment at the time:
An intervention is of limited value without a realistic, effective treatment plan that is acceptable to the person seeking recovery.
I think the drama is in the intervention (and the TV interest), but the post-intervention plan is also important.
I’ll be watching for the quality of the post-intervention plan when I watch the show…hopefully they will include that information, but I suspect they will just say they are sending the person to an expensive residential treatment program.
Please leave a comment and let me know what you think of the program.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I hope so too. It bothers me that some of these shows almost glamorize addiction centers and make it seem like all you have to do is show up and your cured.
Tom – thanks for posting this. Ultimately, key family members would not participate in the program, so I never pursued the filming option. However, another family member (distant cousin – one who would most likely not have been filmed) said to me, “Why wouldn’t you try this option? What would you have to lose? If a televised intervention, the celebrity and drama of it all, moved Hayley closer to recovery, why wouldn’t you try it?” Hmmmmm – - – - my already inflated guilt factor was immediately engaged by this comment. What do you think? Can an intervention result in genuine recovery? I wonder what the stats are re: this?
Peggy –An intervention is only a tool to get a person engaged in treatment. It’s an important step, but not of much value unless the treatment itself is effective. I’ve only watched one episode of Addiction so far, but the treatment was nothing special. I don’t think it is likely that you missed some golden opportunity here, so don’t worry about it. It was probably for the best.
As an Intensive Outpatient D/A counselor I totally agree that some shows only show what the audiences want to see. I see people working every day through the mundane part of life and struggling to remain clean and sober.
Although the shows often do glamorize the treatment process I do believe that if it helps one person to accept they need help then it is worth it!!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Debbie!
I like the episodes where the treatment results in sustained recovery. I know relapse is a common reality, but the “social proof” provided by success stories helps individuals in need of treatment believe it can work for them too!
Thanks for doing the work you do!
Tom – fyi – I just posted regarding the “Addicted” program.
I think what Kristina is going is wonderful. If she helps just one person, then this show is worth it. I myself am not a drug addict, but I did have an addiction, my husband. After several years of smoking pot and then pills, he started using crack. When his addiction took over his life, so did mine. I only lived and breathed to fix him. I have come a long way the past few years. I myself am writin a book about my life and how his addiction changed my life and my kids life forever. Kristina talks alot about the family and friends of the addicts have to get their own recovery started to. Addicts and enabler’s feed off one another, we do this not knowing how bad we are hurting the addict. I would love to start a rehab center for loved ones that need to start their lives over even if the addict doesn’t stay sober. If I help one person than it is worth it! Just wanted to say I love this show and I believe Kristina is here on this earth to do what she is doing, by changing people’s lives.
Thanks for reading and commenting Dana. I’m glad to hear you have made progress in your life and are working to help others. As with Kristina, life experience can motivate us to help others.