drugs side effects

A&E’s Intervention :: What is It Good For?

herocious

If you’re wondering whether real-life addicts relapse after watching Intervention, the A&E TV show that documents real-life people confronting their addictions with hard drugs, the answer is YES.

But does this surprise you?

Is it really surprising that cocaine and heroin users have a tendency to fantasize about getting high while they watch people use their drug of choice on TV?  If you’ve ever had a yen to sip on alcohol or smoke a cigarette after watching someone else drink or smoke, then your answer should be NO.

After all, it is a fact that seeing the Marlboro man smoke cigarettes on TV gets smokers thinking about their nicotine addiction, so why should seeing Chad, the crack cocaine user, doing his thing with crack not get users thinking about their addiction?

And we all know that when users start thinking about their addiction, relapse is highly likely to occur. It is a law of nature:  addicts are acutely attracted to the euphoria that their drug of choice gives them.  This drug has shown them the blue light.  This drug is their little bit of heaven on Earth.  Instant satisfaction.  Instant relief.  Instant serenity.

So, who exactly is Intervention supposed to help then?  If the hour-long episodes don’t help the addicts who may be watching A&E when the drug-addled show airs, then who does it benefit?  Does it serve as a forum for friends of addicts?

Let me stipulate that your answer better be significant since Intervention not only fails to help the thousands/millions of addicts in TV Land beat their destructive addiction, but also harms them, makes them yearn for their wolf in the guise of a lamb.

To compensate for this bad, there better be a good of equal or greater value. It’s simple math, balancing both sides of the equation, that’s the only way this show can morally justify its existence.

@herocious

June 23, 2009 7:50 am

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