A&E's Intervention and Inhalants

Intervention on A&E has consistently offered a honest and often stark view of the disease of addiction and continues to distinguish itself as the only true "reality" show on television today.  While many of the segments have hit close to home for me the most recent episode is especially compelling and poignant in that it deals with the substance and practice that killed my son David.  "Huffing", the intentional inhaling of propellant chemicals contained in aerosol cans is an addictive and potentially deadly practice profiled this week by Intervention. 

In the years since David's death I have written and spoken about the tragic consequences of "huffing" to thousands of young people and their parents.  In working with several national advocacy organizations on inhalant abuse I have always tried to adhere to their basic tenant of "do no harm" by refraining from showing how to use inhalants while telling the story of David's death.  This week Intervention tells the story of Allison, a young pre-med student addicted to inhalants, using up to 10 cans of computer duster a day and spiraling down into insanity.  It is a brutal depiction of the extreme effects of a young woman in the advanced stages of addiction to inhalants and near death.  During the course of the show there are numerous scenes of Allison inhaling duster shown in great detail that leaves nothing to the imagination. 

Despite these graphic scenes, which inhalant abuse awareness advocates may feel violate the "do no harm tenant, I strongly support and applaud A&E for their bold portrayal of this subject.  In today's culture where one need only search My Space, Face Book and You Tube to find hundreds of references and videos of young people using inhalants recreationally in a callous manner without fear of the lethal consequences.  It is laudatory of A&E to address Inhalant Abuse in a manner that leaves no doubt about this dangerous and potentially tragic practice that can cause death with "every breath you take."