Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Episode 6 – Peter and Renee 
 
***Please note:  Episode 7 is actually Episode 6.  The A&E Network chose to change Episode 1 to focus on one case instead of two.***

The A&E Network aired the First Season of Intervention in 2005.  Each episode tells the story of one or two people who have some sort of addiction or destructive disorder.  In most cases the subjects are told that they are being filmed for a documentary about their specific problem.  What has actually taken place is that family and friends have bonded together and requested an intervention. 

During the intervention what usually takes place is that each member of the subject’s family and friends reads a letter that they have composed spelling out how his/her addiction has affected them in a negative way.  The subject is given a chance to leave for rehab immediately, paid by the show, or face some sort of consequence, such as loss of family ties and support.

Peter

Peter, 21, started playing video games at the age of 5.  He had aspirations of being an actor; but it’s not unusual for him to play 17-24 hours straight.  He identifies himself and others as characters in the games he plays.  Peter says that his gaming turned into an obsession when he was 12…the same year his parents were divorced.  Peter tried to commit suicide at 14.

Video game addiction has been linked to depression, violence and suicide.

Renee

Renee has two children and suffers from Bulimia Nervosa, which is characterized by a pattern of binging and purging.  Renee comes from a broken home, never met her father and left home at 18 and got involved with an abusive man. Renee went back to school and left her children behind because she didn’t want any distractions.  “I chose my career over my children,” Renee states.  Renee stands to lose custody of her children, her marriage and her finances.

In one taping Renee consumed 921 calories in 30 minutes.  She feels good while she’s eating; but then feels sad and disappointed afterward.  An adult female should consume 1,200 calories for breakfast and lunch.  In one day Renee consumed 5,000 calories between 8:30 am-2 pm. For a year Renee used self-induced vomiting to purge; but for the past eight months she has relied on water pills and laxatives. 

Abusing laxatives can lead to kidney failure, cardiac arrest and death.  (Anorexic Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc.)

One in five people with eating disorders die.  (The Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders)

Approximately 4.2% of American women suffer from Bulimia.  (National Institute of Health)

Pre-Intervention

Peter

Jeff VanVonderen Is Peter’s Interventionist.  Jeff is a Board Registered Interventionist, Level II, former pastor, author and motivational speaker.   Jeff tells the group that someone like Peter cannot tell the difference between what’s real and what isn’t real.  Peter’s family doesn’t want to support him anymore because that will only make it easy for him to continue his addiction.

Renee

Candy Finnigan is Renee’s Interventionist.  Candy learned her intervention skills from her professor and mentor, Dr. Johnson.  Candy is an author and a recovered alcoholic. 

Candy stated that "you intervene on someone's life when they're not able to take back control of their own life".  

A Possible Learning Tool 

Many of these episodes are extremely powerful and could be used as learning tools for parents and teachers.  With prior viewing, parents, using their own discretion, may feel that their older children might benefit from seeing some of these episodes.

I do NOT recommend that you allow your children of any age to see these episodes based on my reviews or without watching the episode yourself.

If you would like to read my reviews of other episodes, please visit my Profile Page.  If this link does not work, please copy and paste the following link to your browser:

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Episodes are available for $1.99 each downloaded from amazon.com or on DVD from A&E for $19.99-$24.99 for each episode (as of 5/10/12).

This series is rated TV-14.    

Thank you for reading my review.  If the information contained in this review helps even one person, my time has been well spent.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: None of the Above
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age