Since it's founding in 1997, the CYC-Net discussion group has been asked thousands of questions. These questions often generate many replies from people in all spheres of the Child and Youth Care profession and contain personal experiences, viewpoints, as well as recommended resources.
Below are some of the threads of discussions on varying Child and Youth Care related topics.
Questions and Responses have been reproduced verbatim.
Listen to thisI have recently been watching the show
"Intervention" and I am just wondering if an intervention is a realistic
approach when dealing with an addiction? I realize that sometimes caregivers
unknowingly enable their children in regards to addiction. What do you
think?
Leah Turk
Abbotsford, BC
...
Leah asked whether an intervention is a realistic
approach when dealing with an addiction ...
What's the 'success' level behind the TV show intervention vs other methods?
There is your answer.
Lisa
...
I know that from a personal experience with a family member that an
intervention is what worked to keep him drug and alcohol free for the last 5
years. It was an intervention through his employer which ultimately saved
his life, his job and his family. I would say that for some people
intervention is the way to go.
Nancy Mcmanus
...
Hi Leah,
I absolutely love the show Intervention. Is it a realistic approach?
I think it is for sure. It's not an ultimatum, it is still a choice
for the addict whether or not they choose to enter treatment for their
addiction.
The family members on the show are simply letting the
addict know they will not support them in their chosen behaviour should they
choose their path of addiction over treatment. It us ultimately up to
the addict what they want to do. The purpose of the show is to
enlighten the families as to how they are enabling their loved ones and how
this is also a choice for them. The families are then choosing to no longer
enable the addict by stopping their own behaviours of lending money,
providing a place to stay etc. It is up to the addict to stop the
behaviour of abuse they are exhibiting.
The follow-up on the addicts appearing on this show vary from a complete
change in their lifestyle for the positive to relapse after relapse and the
continuation of their addictive behaviour. The addict has to not only
be ready for change, but has to also want that change. For those who
are ready and willing I think it an intervention is a very positive and
helpful step in the right direction. It's an opportunity for them to
hear positive encouragement and love from their family as well as a reality
check for what they are no longer willing to provide in order to enable
their behaviour.
Robyn Bocking
Calgary, AB
...
I don't think the "success" (or lack thereof) of the TV
show cases demonstrates whether or not it is an effective approach. Take a
look at the "success" rate of any program or treatment, relapse rates are
extremely high. I'm not saying this approach is the best option, just that
we can't write it off based on raw numbers.
Jillian Enright,
Winnipeg, MB
...
Interesting discussion, 2 of my family members went through the
"Intervention" program last week and have just begun their treatment. The
show will air in 5-7 months.
Jon DeActis
...
I believe that the method used on the show Intervention is probably one of
the best. Like someone else said, it still provides the user with a
choice. It is not an ultimatum, but a bottom line. You are giving them
the choice to continue with their addiction if they so choose, but you are
also telling them what they will be forfeiting if they choose that path.
I am a recovered drug user myself, and I have brought my husband up from the
darkness of addiction as well. I have a lot of experience here and my
long-term career goal is to be a drug counsellor for youth.
The problems with dealing with addiction tends to lie within the families.
Family members care about the addict and try to do everything in their power
to save them, and so they meet all the other needs that aren't related to
drug use. They may pay the addict's rent, or buy him groceries, or
give him money or drive him somewhere... the list goes on. As long as
the addict is receiving all of these things from his family, what motivation
is there to stop? Why bother? He can have his cake and eat it
too. That is why an Intervention is effective. If the family can
stick to their guns and withhold all of these things, the addict is left
with nothing but the drug. For some this may be alright, but for many its
not.
I do think that an intervention should be more of a last resort. After
all, it's a finality. Either you enter treatment or you live without
all of these things we have been giving you.
Lyndsay Macdonald
