Channel 4 has faced criticism from the drug treatment sector after it emerged a new reality programme called Intervention: Were Coming to Get You is likely to be screened in the autumn.
In the programme, two drug users are told they are taking part in a show that will offer them help to deal with their dependency. The pair are then filmed in a shock confrontation with their families who threaten to disown them unless they seek treatment.
Channel 4 claims that the programme offers an exploration of a controversial US technique called intervention therapy. Charities, however, have branded the programme unethical, questioning the emotional manipulation employed by the technique.
DrugScopes Harry Shapiro, said: "Trying to guilt-trip someone like that is not the way to get people into treatment. It's almost certainly doomed to failure and extremely unethical."
Other charities echoed these concerns. A spokesman for Addaction said: "Our concern is that the people taking part in this programme will not receive the kind of help they need and deserve to tackle their problems. There is also a real possibility that the confrontational approach of this show could cause division, tension and mistrust amongst the families involved."
All participants have given their consent for the programme to be aired, despite not knowing what was happening before filming started.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Posted: 18th August 2006
