The planning of our dad’s intervention took weeks filled with family arguments, friends who wanted to sabotage the intervention and numerous other unforeseen obstacles that made me often second guess why we even cared enough to go through all this madness for a man who’s behavior hurt the ones he loved so much. Jean was our anchor through the entire process. This easily would have never happened if we hadn’t hired a professional to handle the details, the upsets and definitely the emotions of everyone involved.

My dad did not go easy. I cried after the intervention thinking that after all was said and done, he still said he wouldn’t go. Jean stayed and reiterated with us what each of us agreed to do differently now. I remember feeling a sense of relief that at least we were all heard as a group standing together and without shaming him. I felt like it was a death that I just needed to accept. Four days later my dad went to treatment. As stubborn as he was he couldn’t hold up to the three young grandchildren who were too young to attend but were requested by Jean to submit hand-made cards asking him to make himself well again.

“I’m one SOB as a drunk. THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ME ANY OTHER WAY.” Thanks, Jean.

My husband was battling addiction to alcohol and pain medication. Not only was I at my wits end wondering what to do but his family had also written him off and I started fearing for our two daughters growing up in an unsafe environment. I was contemplating getting a divorce when I was asked to talk to Jean Mackie, an Addiction Strategist. After our first meeting I discovered I did have some options to try before resorting to leave my husband. Jean helped me reach out and talk to some of our friends who instantly got on board and supported me in moving forward in doing a full on intervention. Two of our friends even wondered why I’d waited so long before finally doing something like this.

We had to move fast since my husband works in the entertainment field and had a job pending that if he got would take him overseas. I was scared stiff of the possibility of him being fired again from another great paying job opportunity since his addiction had progressed to advance stages. Looking back I’m grateful the intervention happened as quickly as it did. If I’d had more time to sit and think about it, I would’ve talked myself out it. Working with Jean helped me release the fears and doubts ruminating through my head. The one thought that kept resonating was the definition of insanity being someone who does the same thing over and over again thinking they’ll get different results. All I could think was that would be me if I didn’t press forward and do the intervention. The constant misery of trying to stay two steps ahead of him and his drunkenness before it would get out of hand had my own health deteriorating.

Our friends were a Godsend to the process. I never thought we could manage it without my husband’s family being present, but that was impossible due to the collective past episodes that finished their relationship for good. Jean said the process had a strong possibility of working with his friends backing him up in a caring and supportive manner. She couldn’t have been more right. My husband’s friends, Jean and myself gave the best we had in communicating our thoughts strongly and verifiably. I will never forget what he said to me before he agreed to go. He said he appreciated his friends being there and helping me in this way, but the thought of loosing his two girls and me was enough. The rest after that was a blur as I remember sobbing and calling the neighbors to bring our two girls over to help their dad pack because he was going away to treatment.

I’ve got more than two years in recovery. Before that I went to all kinds of doctors getting pain medication for a back injury that happened over a decade ago. I figured it was legitimate stuff to take since a doctor prescribed it. Those yellow vials with the official Rx labels became my sacred secret. Nothing was ever enough and I was up to 40 – 60 pills a day. I was thankful for the Internet being my black-market foolproof fail-safe. There was nothing like the feeling of a Fed Ex package at my door and the anticipation of ripping it open and finding silver sheets of pills each separately encased in it’s own little temple—their individual bubble plastic dome.

I owe a lot to my big sister Lilly. According to her, she contacted Jean to help get my family together and deliver the last eulogy to me. I have to hand it to everyone involved because I know I probably wouldn’t have shown up for me the way they all did. I wouldn’t wish addiction on anyone, but everyone should have the opportunity to have their family shower them with good words before they make a life changing decision. Jean has an uncanny ability of delivering the goods. You don’t see her coming and definitely don’t expect her to be who she is and do what she does.

It took over a year for me to finally hire Jean Mackie to do an intervention on my wife. When I initially contacted her to explain the problem she was having (i.e. incessant arguments with family and friends, hiding booze around the house, replacing the garage door twice because of running into it with the car, money missing from my kids rooms because she’d take it to buy liquor and endless other money issues). I kept putting it off hoping to find a softer easier way and quite honestly save the money and just keep trying more on my own. But Oscar night 2009 was the clincher when she left to drive two blocks to Taco Bell and ran into a bus stop overhang. She was arrested for a DUI with a blood alcohol content of .24. After having spent the night in jail and the kids calling me I knew I was done with this.

I called Jean and said the check is in the mail let’s do this and asked how soon we could get this misery over with. Three days later my wife was in treatment and sobbing because she just couldn’t stop on her own. Our insurance didn’t cover her treatment or the intervention but she finally was getting the help she needed. I had hesitated for so long because there was no guarantee she’d go. Even though Jean had mentioned over and over that no one is ever the same after an intervention and there’s nothing like entering into treatment after a powerfully, proactive and respectful intervention. I still couldn’t hear what she was telling me. Actually because I waited it cost considerable more money. The DUI court issues and attorney’s fees exceeded the cost of treatment. I’m kicking myself for waiting the way I did, but fortunately no one was hurt in any accidents and my wife is now sober and working in recovery at a drug and alcohol outpatient facility.

Our son was a stellar science engineer major from Loyola Marymount University. He graduated with honors and returned to Oahu to begin work as a mechanical engineer at Pearl Harbor. It was a dream job but one he wasn’t able to keep because of his addiction to marijuana and alcohol. Another family in the neighborhood who had suffered similar problems referred us to Jean Mackie. The irony is that neither they nor us have ever met Jean in person. We thought for sure we’d need to do an intervention, but her coaching over the phone enabled us to get him to go to treatment without one.

We also thought treatment was all he needed to get back to normal, but soon found out the real work started after he returned home. I don’t know what we would have done if we hadn’t had Jean as a Case Manager to help guide us through some serious tough times and adjustments. I never want to go through that first year ever again. Having had an addiction professional who was available for all three of us was a huge help in our son’s recovery having real staying power.

As a talent manager who represents a select group of named talent, it’s of grave importance to know the people I’m representing can actually do the work they’re hired to do. A client of mine had just returned from a drug/alcohol treatment program. She was doing well so I called to book her for five days of movie work that would begin immediately. She responded hesitantly referring to it as being a possible trigger for her. Not sure whether to turn it down or take the work, we discussed having an addiction professional be with her while on the set. She wasn’t apposed to the idea but wanted to keep her confidentiality about her recovery. I spoke with Jean Mackie who suggested she have a Recovery Emissary be with her while on the set but under the guise of another title that would make sense as to why this person would be sticking close by her for five days. We decided to have Jean be a possible relief assistant my client was thinking of hiring so she would be accompanying her everywhere and getting to know what was required of this position.

It was five days of smooth sailing for my client and for me knowing we had our bases covered. Jean’s an amazing person to work with. She later accompanied my client on several other ventures which entailed high-risk situations that weren’t worth the chance of a possible relapse. Jean’s highly accomplished with the work she does, very knowledgeable about addiction and works extremely well with industry professionals. Referring to Jean is a pleasure because I know my clients are in capable hands.

Looking back, I can’t believe how serendipitous it was being driven to treatment by my interventionist, Jean Mackie. As I got in the car I said to myself, this is going to be a painful four hours. Then I started feeling even more sorry for myself and began thinking about the intervention and who all was there. Suddenly I said, “How in hell did you ever get these people in the same room together and say such wonderful things?”

We both burst out laughing and the next thing I knew we were talking a mile streak and before I knew it we were there already. After unloading my things from the car she hugged me and said, “Keep on talking. A lot of people in there need to hear your story.” My sobriety birthday is Sept. 10, 2010. She was right. A lot of people do need to hear my story, but only when I’m sober and not skunk-face wasted.

I may be a clown, but soon as I drank I became an ass. Funny but all of a sudden the pranks were real and no one was laughing. I thought it was the end right before I fell off a 40 ft. scaffolding. Nothing like a circus clown with a broken femur.

Jean showed up with my family and friends just as I was getting my leg out of its cast. I didn’t expect such a production of people, but that’s before I knew how many people cared. It was a tough problem to juggle, and a relief giving up the act. Jean’s the best in the business.

Never believe anyone who tells you drinking and taking drugs is about choice. I tried every morning I’d wake up and tell myself today I’m not having anything. But somewhere during the day my mind would start thinking about it and the next thing I knew I’d be shooting heroin into my veins or snorting whatever I could get my hands on cheap enough. I tried detoxing myself several times but it only seemed to make matters worse.

One day my brother came over to drive me to a job interview. He said if I got the job I could save money and live with him since the place was very near where he lived and I could just walk to work. We then drove to a hotel where he said they were having the interviews. I walked straight into an intervention with all my family and friends around me. All I could think was, “Just kill me now. Anything’s better than this!” Then this woman came up to me and said, “I’m Jean Mackie. Your families asked me to be here today… I think you’re going to like what they have to say.”

Well I didn’t like what they had to say, but I sure needed to hear what they had to say. I felt unworthy until I looked into my dad’s eyes when it was his turn to speak. He said he wanted to be the one to drive me to the hotel, but he couldn’t trust himself in not taking me some place else where we could be alone and talk. Then he broke into tears and said, “I knew my words alone would not be enough and it would be the addiction in this family wanting to stay alive if I denied this from happening. This is taking every last hope I have for you now if you don’t get help. Let me be the one to take you to treatment today. “

It took a crew of 22 people to speak to me that day but my dad’s words were what did it. Jean stayed on as my Case Manager directly after my treatment. She helped me find a sober living, outpatient treatment and even helped guide me back into school to study graphic arts. She stayed working with me for the first year of my recovery and helped my family in making some adjustments that were challenging for them to do as well. It really helped to have someone be there and be tuned in to all of us. Jean really gets addiction and knows how to talk to people in a way that gets the right message across. I know, because I wouldn’t be here now if it hadn’t worked so good.

My new motto, “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.” And no way could any of this been done on my own.