History Series / Intervention

** There are also a significant number of addicts featured who grew up in a home where one or both parents were addicted to drugs or alcohol. Naturally this creates some deeply unhealthy relationships that often include abuse and neglect.

* FallenHero: Several addicts were exceptional students and/or shining citizens, then again no one would want to watch the show if all anyone had to say about the addict featured was that they're an asshole.
** Notably, Jeff [=VanVonderen=], one of the show's stable of interventionists, suffered a relapse of his own and took a leave of absence in Season 5 to work on his own sobriety. He returned the next year, healthy and happy, and continued with the show through the end of Season 13. When the show returned in 2015, he did as well.

* GenkiGirl: Allison, an inhalant addict, is an incredibly dark example "I'm walkin' on sunshine," indeed.

** A handful of the addicts have been tipped off to their family's intentions by their more genre savvy "friends."

* UnwittingPawn: In many episodes, the addict's family members have fallen into patterns of co-dependent/enabling behavior without realizing it. Taken to its extreme in an August 2011 episode; the addict's grandparents, who were largely responsible for getting her onto the show, called her just before the intervention to tell her what was about to happen. The interventionist then asked them not to participate, and the meeting turned into a shouting match in the street.

** A couple addicts were [[HeyItsThatGuy famous before being featured on the program]]. Among the most notable was [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_Meeks Travis Meeks]], lead singer for [[TheNineties Nineties]] [[AlternativeRock alt-rockers]] Days of the New, who threw away his successful career for his methamphetamine addiction.

!Recurring tropes on this show:

** Notably, Jeff [=VanVonderen=], one of the show's stable of interventionists, suffered a relapse of his own and took a leave of absence in Season 5 to work on his own sobriety. He returned the next year, healthy and happy, and continued with the show through the end of Season 13. He's also slated to return for Season 14.

After 13 seasons, A&E announced in May 2013 that the series had been canceled. However, a 14th season has since been ordered; it premiered on March 22, 2015.

After 13 seasons, A&E announced in May 2013 that the series had been canceled. However, a 14th season has since been ordered and will premiere on March 22, 2015.

** Notably, Jeff [=VanVonderen=] one of the show's stable of interventionists, suffered a relapse of his own and needed a leave of absence in season five to work on his own sobriety. He returned the next year, healthy and happy, and has continued with the show ever since.

A popular documentary-style reality show on A&E. It's won at least one Emmy during its run.

During each episode, we'll see the addicts (or addict if there's only one) being followed around by a camera crew as they go about their daily lives and cope with their addictions. Towards the end, they will face the intervention, where their loved ones will implore that they get help or else they'll have to put their foot down. The addict will then either decide to go to rehab or will refuse treatment. If there's enough time between filming and airing the episode, the viewers can occasionally see what happened since the filming wrapped. There have also been a few episodes strictly devoted to following up with past addicts.

* StagingAnInterventiopn: The entire point of the show.

*** Spiritual or religious maltreatment is shown often, too, sometimes as a self-justification for the parent's other controlling behaviors. This may be included in part because of Jeff Van Vonderen's personal interest in this subject. It's something not often recognized in the USA (where religion is often romanticized and given special treatment by media and government). In addition to writing about addiction, Van Vonderen has written a number of books about this topic and its contribution to mental and emotional conflict in people raised in the church.

** There are many addicts who come from families that are not overtly abusive, but have such controlling tendencies that similar damage is done. They might not beat or neglect their child, but their inflexibility on some issues amounts to emotional abuse. Typically, this is shown through overly critical parents, parents with misogynistic tendencies (such as pushing their daughters to marriage/children rather than any non-familial achievements the child might want). The show also features a number of gay or lesbian addicts who initially start using to deal with their family's inability to deal with their sexuality. Spiritual or religious abuse is shown often, too, sometimes as a self-justification for the parent's other controlling behaviors.

*** One addict was given alcohol by his mother whenever he wanted, starting from the time she got divorced - when he was 8 years old. He was alcoholic by age 9, and using and selling meth with her by age 13. He also blamed himself for her death even though he was a grown man with a wife and children when it happened.

* DysfunctionalFamily: Again, more than a few. One family featured a mother that had never told her kids she loved them because she found it "emotionally manipulative".

* FallenHero: Several addicts were exceptional students and/or shining citizens.

* WhatTheHellHero: Although the crew's intentions are good, given the premise is that the addicts believe they're in a documentary on addiction, when the intervention happens, often the addicts get pissed off at the crew for lying to them and tell them off.
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** UsefulNotes/Abuse -- physical, verbal or sexual--is the root cause of some 60% or more of all addictions on the show.

* BottleFairy: Quite obviously, a great number of the alcoholics.

* BottleFairy: ...Duh.

* BadassMustache: Sported by interventionist Jeff [=VanVonderen=]

* BadassMustache: Sported by interventionist Jeff [=VanVondren=]

** Notably, Jeff [=VanVondren=] one of the show's stable of interventionists himself relapsed, and needed a leave of absence in season five to work on his own sobriety. He returned the next year, healthy and happy.

* SelfHarm

** Abuse--physical, verbal or sexual--is the root cause of some 60% or more of all addictions on the show.

** ParentalAbandonment: Yes, missing parents come up a lot too. Quite a few of the addicts have cited that as the source of their FreudianExcuse.
*** This includes the addicts themselves if they have kids.