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What is a "Drug Intervention"?
An intervention is a carefully crafted process that directs a
non-compliant person towards help and treatment. A trained
interventionist coordinates friends, family and sometimes co-workers
to facilitate this process. Usually led by a professional, an
intervention brings the concerned individuals together to take
action to help a person that needs assistance.
An Intervention specialist can help you in developing a plan of
action suited to your individual circumstances. They can help your
friend, coworker or loved one get their lives back in order and
overcome drug or alcohol addiction. An effective Intervention will
see that the addict receives the necessary treatment he/she needs
and beyond.
A word of caution:
Today, with alcohol and other drug addiction interventions being
broadcast on television, participants often believe they do not need
a trained person and they can do it for themselves. The danger in
this is there may be one and only one opportunity to approach the
sick person and get them to proper help. Untrained and unskilled
participants do not want to blow this chance. Trained, credentialed
professionals are capable of assessing the situation, dealing with
their denial and resistance plus determining the model of
intervention that will have the best outcome for each person. We are
qualified and experienced in drug interventions. For more
information see How we
approach drug intervention.
It was once thought that alcohol and drug abusers had to "hit
bottom" before help could be offered and accepted. If you are wait
until the abusers hits "rock bottom" before you intervene, then you
may be forced to watch them destroy their lives and deeply affect
the lives of their families as well as others around them. It was
also thought that an abuser could only get better if they were
self-motivated to change. That is not always the case. Intervention
can assist in the process of motivating the person to accept
treatment for their drug or alcohol addiction.
The addict / alcoholic may not know that their behavior is out of
control or they may be in denial. Oftentimes they associate with
friends who themselves are alcoholics or addicts and their behavior
merely mirrors their own leaving them to believe that their behavior
is normal.
One of the primary purposes of an intervention is to help the
addict / alcoholic and the family accept the reality of their
situation and to get treatment. While there are many intervention
models to choose from, Our approach to intervention depends on the
individual and the family on a case-by-case basis.
While addicts / alcoholics and their family systems share similar
behaviors across the board, each system is as unique as the family
itself and are treated accordingly.
The intervention is always presented in a loving, caring manner
with an eye toward restoring dignity for the addict/alcoholic who
oftentimes is living with the shame typically associated with
addiction.
In most cases, the end result of an intervention is the person
accepting the fact that they need help, and going willingly to a
pre-selected placement .. The interventionist then works out the
arrangements for admission and will accompany the person to the
facility.
The optimum time for an intervention is just after a major event,
although it is important that the addict is sober at the time of the
intervention. An example of such an event is if the person gets
arrested, or when he/she has wronged (lied, stolen, cheated etc.) a
person who has done these types of things will usually show emotions
such as remorse or guilt. Another would be when a spouse is leaving
them because of their addiction. Yet another would be after an
overdose. Although you obviously don't want to risk the person's
life by postponing forever, an intervention will be more effective
after such events when the addict is down and feels like his/her
life is in need of change.
In most cases, the end result of an intervention is the person
accepting the fact that they need help, and going willingly to a
pre-selected placement .. The interventionist then works out the
arrangements for admission and will accompany the person to the
facility.
Why are drug interventions necessary?
Let's be quite frank: it is because nothing else has worked.
Often there is a concerned family member who wants to help but is
unable to convince the addict to seek treatment. The most common
situation is that a family member has a level of emotional
involvement that is getting in the way of him or her seeing the
truth in the situation.
Let's face it: you are dealing with an addict-reason and
discussion are not going to change this person. But a trained
interventionist who understands addiction can motivate the person to
make the decision to get help now.
Who should be at the drug intervention?
Usually the Interventionist will work this out in the
pre-intervention phase. Family members, close friends and sometimes
co-workers are involved. The Interventionist will need to know who
is enabling the addict, that is anyone paying bills, providing
housing or in any way providing financial support.
These people may not need to be present at the intervention but
must be involved in the pre-intervention phase in order to achieve a
successful intervention.
The Do's and Don'ts of a Drug Intervention
Do:
- Take action because you have a real concern or love for the
individual.
- Steer clear of hatred, hostility, condemnation, lecturing or
moralizing. Keep in mind that you are there to help the
individual not put them down.
- Inform them of their options regarding treatment.
- Let the person know you are concerned about his/her welfare;
tell how you feel about what is happening.
- Talk about the behavior that worries you and how you see it
affecting the individual, yourself, and others.
- Let the individual experience the consequences related to
their drug or alcohol problem.
- Be prepared to take action when the individual decides to
get help. This may mean making the arrangements for treatment,
transportation, child care, pet care, etc. ahead of time.
- Provide the individual with hope. People recover from drug
and alcohol problems everyday!
Don't:
- Don't become emotional about the situation. Maintain the focus of
the intervention on factual events that took place because of
the individuals drug or alcohol use.
- Don't contemplate as to the numerous reasons why the individual
may have developed a problem with drugs or alcohol. This only
deviates from the intentions of the intervention which is to get
the individual help for their problem.
- Don't agree to hollow promises from the individual. The
intervention is taking place so that action and changes happen
today. Don't hold the intervention while the individual is high or
drunk.
- Don't accept guilt or responsibility for the individual's actions.
Call
1-800-893-7060
for help with drug intervention.
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