Intervention

The reason I chose the short story "Intervention" is mostly because I myself used to have a drug and alcohol problem. I have been clean and sober for over 4 years and when I heard the name of the story it immediately triggered a flood of emotions within me. As I began to read the story, I was able to relate to much of the abuse mentioned. It was a very realistic portrayal of what it is like to have moved well beyond the partying phase of alcohol or drug use and venture into the dark unknown place of using to be normal.

I really could relate to the concept of enabling and I not only know this role as I have experienced it with my parents always giving me money when I was strung out because the were afraid I would rob someone, but also known it as someone who would do copious amounts of drugs with my friends and then be the one to drag people to bed and stay up several hours to make sure they didn't die in their sleep. I now know, after losing right at a dozen friends to drug overdose and alcohol related deaths that there is an absolute zero tolerance to any use where there has been evidence of abuse. It is not worth the risk to take when you basically load a gun and put in the hand of a suicidal person by enabling an addict or alcoholic.

I was horribly disappointed but not surprised by the ending of the story. I wondered how secure Marilyn would feel in her fantasy of Sid always being there if he was going to die in his sleep unpredictably a week later. What is right doesn't always feel good and what feels good isn't always right. I would rather someone be able to live 20 more years with a hatred for me exposing their addiction, then love me for letting them continue their abuse and die tomorrow.