They're cheap, easy to get and legal. They're also deadly. But that's not stopping teenagers and young adults from using chemical inhalants to get high. Hundreds of everyday products--household cleaners, disinfectants, computer dusters--contain chemicals that when breathed in give a powerful five-second high. It's called huffing and studies show that over two million kids nationwide are doing it. We'll take a powerful look at the trend and how it is shocking parents and destroying young lives.

Intervention In-Depth: Huffing

Jeff VanVonderen

Candy Finnigan

Ken Seeley

Donna Chavous

Maureen Brine

Marquel

Robby

After graduating college, Linda found success working as an extra in Hollywood, achieving the glamorous life she always wanted. But her dreams died when she came down with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by joint dislocations. Linda started taking fentanyl, a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine. As her painkiller use escalated, she claimed that different sources were causing her pain, including electricity, energy, colors, and even specific people. Despite Linda's wild claims, her mother clings to the belief that Linda's pain is real and she must do everything to help her, including depleting the family's savings and sending her son to be Linda's caretaker.

Linda

Greg once owned a thriving business and was a devoted husband and father. But after a back injury left him disabled, he lost his business, started gambling, and became dependent on pain medication. He also became obsessed with Internet sweepstakes scams, and he has bankrupted his family in a relentless pursuit of big winnings. Having lost everything, Greg's family just wants their proud father back.

Greg

Once an effervescent, beautiful young woman, Jennifer was considered a genius by her teachers and was the pride and joy of her parents. But at age 17, Jennifer was involved in a car accident that caused a brain injury and kidney damage. Jennifer survived, but only three days after she left the hospital another family car accident ended in a fatality. Jennifer turned to drugs and alcohol to cope and now spends her days searching for parties or drinking companions. Her parents know that only an intervention can save her.

Jennifer

Once a gifted singer/songwriter, Rob was part of a successful band. He loved the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, but he began a long descent into addiction when he turned to drugs and alcohol to fuel his creativity. When his band fell apart--a casualty of his drug use--he was devastated. He lost his siblings' respect and custody of his daughter. Now he spends his days in a haze of meth smoke and alcohol in his filthy apartment. But his mother still sees him as her sweet little boy. Will she love him to death, or will Rob's family be able to save him from himself?

Amy grew up feeling unloved and unable to meet her parents' high expectations. She was also molested by a neighbor when she was eight, but never told anyone in her family. She began to self-mutilate and restrict her diet, and by 17, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now, Amy eats only 500 calories a day, drinks up to two bottles of vodka a night, and regularly self-mutilates. Amy's family is ready to give up on her, but they still don't know about Amy's sexual abuse. Only Amy's friend, Jessica, knows the truth, but will she have the courage to tell Amy's family before it's too late?

Amy W.

Raped when she was 14 and feeling abandoned by her family, Sarah turned to drugs, even becoming a stripper to support her drug habit. She's prohibited by the courts from seeing her three-year-old son, and now lives with a man who is more than twice her age and manages a massage parlor. Can an intervention save her from her self-destructive lifestyle?

Sarah

Jackie

When Vinnie was a boy, his father abused him physically and verbally, leaving his mother feeling helpless. He developed a love for fast-paced sports, including BMX, motocross, and car racing, but his need for speed turned into an addiction to crack cocaine. Now, Vinnie lives in his car with his dog and smokes up to $1,000 worth of crack a week. Vinnie's mother tries to make up for not protecting him when he was younger by giving him money and a place to stay. But Vinnie needs more than that--he needs an intervention.

Vinnie

When Robby's mother discovered his talent for music, she became a classic stage mother and relentlessly pushed him. Robby formed a group which became an instant success, even earning a Grammy nomination. But Robby indulged in the excesses of fame and fortune, and became an alcoholic. The group fell apart, and Robby became deeply depressed. His family  and friends fear that he is intentionally drinking himself to death and believe that an intervention is their last hope.

Working as a fitness instructor at the most elite gyms and partying on the club circuit at night, Marquel seems to have the perfect life. But her family sees her exercise regime as obsessive-compulsive, and they watch her binge-drinking episodes end up in hospitalizations. They believe she is an exercise addict, bulimic, and alcoholic, and they have turned to interventionist Candy for help.

Kristine has major health problems like a blood clot in her brain and recently news of leukemia, yet alcohol is a daily part of her life. With the heavy burden of medical problems, Kristine feels hopeless and figures drinking will simply ease the process of death. Can an intervention work in this case? If the disease is terminal, is an intervention even the answer?

Kristine

Shane's musical aspirations are being ruined by his abuse of prescription medications (OxyContin). He even deals the drugs out of his family's home and puts them in danger. Shane's father was a drug addict who died from an overdose, so what will it take for Shane to realize that what he is doing is dangerous to himself and damaging to those around him?

Shane

A former boxer fights homelessness and crack addiction for his life.

Rocky

Ashley started using heroin when her grandfather passed away; her family fears that she will overdose and die.

Ashley

Amy and her family immigrated to Canada to escape the violence of South Africa; Amy has become anorexic and bulimic.

Amy P.

A mechanic turns to drugs and alcohol following the drug-related deaths of his brother and sister.

Tyler

A traumatic childhood event and later health problems trap a man in a cycle of substance abuse.

Richard

People whose uncontrollable addiction to drugs, alcohol or compulsive behavior has brought them to the brink of destruction and has devastated their family and friends are presented with a life-changing opportunity of intervention and rehab. Each addict must confront their darkest demons in order to begin their journey to recovery in the hopes that they can turn their lives around before it’s too late.

Intervention In-Depth: Huffing

Seasons25

Season 8 Episodes18

Cast5

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