If anything, I think the families are taking control of their own lives BACK - not trying to control the addict. The addict can do what he/she wishes. He/she can get "well" with the family, or go on their merry way in active addiction, albeit all by their dang selves with no help or enabling-style support from the family. At an intervention, the family is saying to the addict, "we acknowledge that your addiction has made us 'sick' also, and we are choosing to get well. we hope you choose to get well with us, but if you don't, we are still choosing to get well - with or without you."