3 Ways to Get Ready for a Life-Saving Intervention

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It’s a difficult reality when people realize that their loved one needs drug or alcohol intervention. What makes it even more challenging is that most addicts deny the effects of drugs or drinking on themselves and others. By avoiding the possibility of an alcohol intervention, he or she can continue to pretend like nothing is wrong. Holding a substance abuse intervention or an alcohol intervention forces the addicted person to look at the consequences of using or drinking and hear the impact it has on those closest to him or her.

What Is an Alcohol or Drug Intervention?

A substance abuse intervention is a face-to-face meeting with the addict, concerned family members and perhaps the employer and a few friends. A professional drug intervention specialist is also often on hand to direct the conversation to ensure it focuses only on the addicted person’s need for help. Typically, the person for whom the alcohol or drug intervention is held is not aware of what is about to happen. This is to avoid the addicted person not showing up for the meeting.

How to Decide If Now Is the Right Time to Stage an Alcohol or Substance Abuse Intervention

For some people, any amount of drug use or drinking alcohol by a loved one is enough to consider the need for holistic drug treatment. The following are some common signs of an addicted person:

  • Unusually aggressive behavior
  • Frequently borrowing money and not paying it back
  • Frequently acting in a secretive manner
  • Significant problems at school or work
  • Doesn’t pay as much attention to physical appearance and/or hygiene
  • Seems unmotivated and shows a lack of energy
  • New and/or serious health issues
  • Denial of addictive behavior

One of the most challenging things about a drug intervention is that everyone except the addict can see the damage that drinking or drug use has on his or her life. Rather than appreciate the concern, the addicted person is likely to be angry, defensive, and tell people to mind their own business. Those attempting to get a loved one to enroll in intervention rehab centers must not take this behavior personally and instead view it as normal symptoms of addiction.

Connecting With a Drug Intervention Specialist

While families can attempt an intervention on their own, utilizing the services of an intervention specialist helps to keep things on track. That person is a neutral third party who won’t allow the addict or anyone else to dominate the conversation. Intervention specialists have extensive training in breaking through the denial of an addicted person and helping them see the need to check into intervention rehab centers.

This person also coaches family members and others present at the intervention on what to say and to not accept blame or any personal attacks from the subject of the intervention. Families can feel confident that the specialist has conducted hundreds or even thousands of other interventions with successful results.

Stage the Intervention

People present at the intervention should welcome the addict as he or she comes through the door. The facilitator will state the purpose of the meeting and ask participants to share their concerns about their loved one’s addiction. He or she will bring up holistic drug treatment towards the end of the meeting and outline the many ways it can help the person struggling with addiction such as detoxification, small group support, and nutritional therapy without the need for spirituality or religion.

A person who would have said no to traditional treatment might just say yes to a holistic drug treatment program that appreciates him or her as a complex individual with unique drug treatment needs. Even if the addict flat-out refuses help now, the seed has been planted and he or she will reach out again when ready.

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Melissa Thompson

Melissa is a mother of 2, lives in Utah, and writes for a multitude of sites. She is currently the EIC of HarcourtHealth.com and writes about health, wellness, and business topics.