What Is An Intervention?
Intervention is a frequently-used term, but many people may not be aware of what it entails. An intervention is described as a process of intervening in someone’s affairs in the hopes of improving a situation.
The process begins when family and or friends become concerned that a loved one is engaging in destructive behaviors. The types of actions that typically prompt an intervention include some form of addition, such as substance abuse.
Drug and Alcohol Intervention Help
Drug and Alcohol Intervention Help for Families
The purpose of a drug intervention is to persuade the addict to seek help. Unfortunately, most of the time when intervention occurs the addict’s loved ones have already exhausted all other means of getting the addict to seek help. In some cases, a drug intervention may be planned after an addict’s failed attempt at rehab.
In the most technical sense, a drug intervention involves a confrontation. However, it is much more of a way of persuading the addict to seek treatment by expressing caring, offering hope and providing a solution than it is about challenging the addict’s behavior.
Drug Intervention Programs
Interventions can have severe implications and impacts for everyone involved. There can be risks associated with an intervention, such as the addict feeling threatened by being ganged up on. However, there are ways to minimize and mitigate these issues.
There are three main steps to maximize the intervention’s potential for success:
- The intervention group should be made up of the people closest to the addict, including family members, close friends, coworkers, and clergy, if appropriate.
- The group should consult with a professional interventionist, such as a mental health counselor or therapist or someone from a respected drug-rehab program.
- The group should be ready to talk to the addict about the adverse effects the addict’s substance abuse has had on them personally while emphasizing they can no longer just look the other way and then urge the addict to seek help immediately.
How to Perform an Intervention
The intervention group first meets, without the addict’s knowledge, to discuss how to handle the intervention best. The details of where and when the intervention will take place, as well as what will be said and by whom, all need to be carefully considered and planned.
The group typically selects a leader, someone the addict knows well and trusts. However, as the addict may feel blindsided by the process, it is often helpful for a professional drug-addiction specialist to help facilitate the intervention. The group then meets with the addict to express their heartfelt concerns and fears about the person’s behavior.
Intervention for Alcoholics
While alcohol is not often considered a drug, alcoholism is one of the most common reasons for holding an intervention. Like any drug addiction, alcoholism is usually a very serious issue that can lead to many major health issues and even death.
The goal of the group must be to show the alcoholic the consequences his or her actions resulting from alcohol abuse. An alcohol intervention should focus more on the negative behaviors and outcomes from drinking more than the drinking itself. It is imperative that the people in the intervention group be firm, but caring and compassionate.
If you’re waiting for just the right moment, there will never be an ideal time to intervene in a loved one’s alcohol addiction. Like other dangerous addictions, drinking problems escalate over time—so the best time to schedule an intervention is now. Waiting to get your spouse, parent, or child the help they need is asking for trouble and enabling them to continue down a path toward legal problems, relationship dysfunction, financial ruin, health crisis, or even death. Getting an alcoholic family member the help they need is the best way to protect others from
Alcohol Interventions, if you’re waiting for just the right moment, there will never be an ideal time to intervene in a loved one’s alcohol addiction. Like other dangerous addictions, drinking problems escalate over time—so the best time to schedule an intervention is now. Waiting to get your spouse, parent, or child the help they need is asking for trouble and enabling them to continue down a path toward legal problems, relationship dysfunction, financial ruin, health crisis, or even death. Getting an alcoholic family member the help they need is the best way to protect others from harm since alcoholism can lead to injury or death through family violence, child neglect, drunk driving, and other destructive behaviors.
It is estimated that four to six percent of the population has a drinking problem. When someone precious to you will not stop drinking despite a job loss, DUI, ruined marriage or diagnosed health problem, it’s time to confront them with the help of an intervention specialist.
Are Interventions Effective?
Typically and intervention is performed as a last resort. Ultimately, the addict is the only person who can decide if an intervention is effective. While the intervention group can put forth their best possible effort, if the addict ultimately decides not to accept help there is little else that can be done.
In some situations, intervention programs have the potential to result in further damage to the addict’s relationships with family and friends while further isolating the addict. However, many interventions are wholly effective and help the addict to experience a full recovery and lead a productive and fulfilling life.
Addiction Intervention
The goal of the intervention is to help the addict understand the addiction has negative consequences for all concerned. To achieve its objective, the intervention should follow a structured process to have the maximum chance of success. This is where the assistance of an intervention facilitator can be invaluable.
Most states have a set of professional standards for interventionists, so carefully consider the credentials of every interventionist you interview to ensure the person is qualified. During the interviews ask the interventionists what approach they use, how they handle situations that do not go as hoped and if the addict refuses to seek treatment.
Family Intervention Specialist
A family intervention is designed to assist the family members dealing with the consequences of the addict’s behavior as much as it is intended to help the addict. In the family-intervention model, the entire team of family members is considered the patient.
With the family-intervention model, the addict is part of the family-intervention team and is informed of all the details. Family interventions will take place over the course of a few days where the team works together to change behavior patterns, enhance communication and effect lasting changes.
Holding an Intervention
One of the most critical elements to the understanding of a drug intervention is the intervention plan must be specific. The main facts to remember are:
- A professionally-planned and well-executed intervention will have the highest chance of success.
- An intervention is a face-to-face discussion between the addict and loved ones where everyone is given an opportunity to speak and spell out the consequences of the addict not getting help.
- The intervention team can include the addict’s family, friends, and colleagues.
- The objective of an intervention is to show the pain caused by the addiction and to encourage the addict to seek help.
Arrangements should be made with an addiction-treatment center before the intervention, and the addict should be taken there immediately if he or she decides to accept help.
Coast to Coast provides professional drug intervention specialists and planning and facilitation for:
- Drug abuse
- Drug addiction
- Street drug addiction
- Prescription drug addiction
- Opiate addiction
- Marijuana addiction
- Cocaine & heroin addiction
- Ritalin & Adderall addiction
- Stimulant addiction
Drug Intervention with Coast to Coast Recovery
It will never feel like “just the right time” to intervene in a family member’s addiction. Unfortunately, your avoidant behavior is enabling them while subjecting you to the pain of manipulation and deceit. Call Coast to Coast today—before it is too late. Intervention is a powerful tool in our addiction treatment arsenal, and our reputable interventionists have an excellent success rate.
Family Resources for Drug Interventions
If you are looking into Drug or Alcohol Intervention and need assistance, you may arrange an Intervention. Coast to Coast may also provide Family Addiction Counseling and workshops. Our Team of professionals understand that time is of the essence, and a life may be on the line. Call us today.
Take the First Step Today with an Intervention
A professional intervention provides an open door to addiction treatment. First, the intervention specialists at Coast to Coast meet with your family to:
- Educate you about alcohol addiction & treatment options.
- Discuss your personal story & process your emotions.
- Uncover enabling behaviors & learn to set healthy boundaries.
- Determine the consequences that occur if your loved one rejects treatment.
- Plan the intervention from start to finish. This may include having family members write letters to the addicted individual, which will be read during the meeting.
As an objective third party, our interventionists help you compassionately confront your family member with the goal of guiding them into immediate detox or alcohol addiction treatment. Do not try to facilitate an intervention on your own. Coast to Coast has an exceptional intervention success rate, and our team is trained and equipped to keep the conversation productive and safe.
Schedule a Drug or Alcohol Intervention with Coast to Coast
Managing even the most confrontational alcohol interventions with high success rates, our interventionists are trained experts. Whether your loved one is a daily drinker or a binge drinker, they are putting themselves and others at risk. Don’t waste time hoping that they will see the error of their ways. There is far too much at stake.
Call (800) 210-8229 today. We are here 24/7 to answer your questions, begin the treatment intake and verification process, and discuss an alcohol intervention that protects others and gives alcoholics renewed purpose and new life.