Ep 3. Tamela and Jerrie

Tamela and Jerrie, two sisters struggling with drug addiction, are the focus of Intervention season 1 episode 3. Tamela, the older sister, has been addicted to crack cocaine since the age of 19 and is now in her 30s. Jerrie, the younger sister, started using drugs in her early 20s and is addicted to methamphetamine. The two sisters are living together in a small apartment in Texas and their addiction has taken a toll on their relationship with each other and their family.

The episode starts with a brief background of the sisters' childhood and how they were raised in a strict religious household. Tamela reveals that she was sexually abused by a family member when she was young, which led to her drug addiction. Jerrie does not have a specific reason for her addiction but admits to feeling lost and not having direction in her life.

The sisters' addiction has taken a toll on their physical and mental health. Tamela has lost a significant amount of weight and has a constant cough from smoking crack. Jerrie is paranoid and has developed scabs on her face from picking at her skin. The sisters both have a history of incarceration and have lost custody of their children.

Their family, which includes their mother, brother, and sister-in-law, have come together to stage an intervention for the sisters. The intervention specialist, Jeff Van Vonderen, meets with the family beforehand to prepare them for the intervention. He informs them that he will be meeting with the sisters separately to convince them to seek help and that they will be given the choice to go straight to treatment or face consequences such as losing their housing or custody of their children.

During the interventions, Tamela initially denies having a drug problem but later agrees to go to treatment. Jerrie is hesitant and wants to continue using drugs but eventually agrees to seek treatment. The sisters are both given a few hours to pack their bags before leaving for treatment.

The episode then cuts to a follow-up six months later. Tamela is shown to have successfully completed treatment and is now living in a halfway house while working towards getting her children back. Jerrie, however, has left treatment early and is still using drugs. The family discusses how they are disappointed but still supportive of Jerrie and hope that she will eventually seek help again.

Overall, Intervention season 1 episode 3 provides a raw and emotional look into the lives of two sisters struggling with addiction and their family's attempt to help them. The episode highlights the complexities of addiction and the importance of professional help in overcoming it.