How to Write an Intervention Letter
As the loved one of a user, it can be difficult to help your loved one with addiction and encourage them to seek the help and drug treatment they need. An intervention is a method by which the loved ones, family, and friends of a user can unite with a common goal of showing the user how important it is for them to seek treatment for their addiction. An intervention is driven by a group of concerned loved ones recognizing the need for the user to get treatment and staging an intervention to help them see the need for treatment as well. The user is unaware of the plan for the intervention. The loved ones hold the intervention with the user and offer the addict treatment at a rehabilitation center, which if accepted is where the user will go after the intervention.
One key aspect of a successful intervention is the intervention letters each loved one attending the event will write. The intervention letter spans both the planning and execution phases of the intervention and is the cornerstone of the conversation during the intervention. It is common to wonder how to write an intervention letter. Below is a step-by-step guide to writing an effective intervention letter that will help convince the addict in your life go to drug addiction treatment.
The Key Steps to Writing an Intervention Letter
An intervention letter is integral to making sure the intervention flows as smoothly as possible and each individual attending is able to communicate to their loved one how they are feeling in a clear and compassionate way. It is useful to rehearse the intervention letter and read aloud with other participants prior to the intervention in order to really hone the message and tone of the letter. Below are the key steps to writing an intervention letter:
Open with a Heartfelt, Loving Statement
It’s important for your loved one to feel that you are supporting them during the intervention, and not have blame placed on them for their problem. Open with a heartfelt, compassionate statement to make sure they know how much you care for them. You can recall a specific memory of when your loved one was there for you and provided you the support you needed. You can reference the good times in your relationship and how much they mean to you. Even if there is a strain in your relationship due to their addiction, it’s important to show them you are grateful for them and that you have love and concern for them. You want to let the addict know that people care for them and want them to receive treatment from an addiction program so they can go back to their previous, happy life.
Address a Specific Instance When Their Substance Abuse Affected You
To drive home the importance of them seeking help for their addiction, it’s important to clearly communicate the effect their addiction has on those around them. To do so, it’s important to address specific times in which their substance abuse has affected you and how it made you feel. Be sure to keep the tone of your letter and to avoid accusations or blame. The goal is not to make your loved one defensive, but to open their eyes to the reality of their addiction and the consequences it is having on the people they love.
Communicate That You’ve Taken the Time to Understand Their Addiction
It’s important for your loved one to feel supported and understood during their intervention. Addiction is a disease and it’s vital for you to show them that you have taken the time to research addiction and understand that it is a disease that is not their fault. The goal is not to make your loved one feel guilty for their addiction, but to encourage them to get the addiction treatment they need to battle their substance abuse. By educating yourself about addiction, your words will resonate more when you tell them the importance of seeking treatment to begin on the road to recovery.
Ask Your Loved One to Accept Help and Enter Treatment
At this point, it is important to drive home that you want your loved one to accept the help they need and enter treatment for their substance abuse problem. In this section of the letter, make sure you reiterate your love, concern, and support for them. It’s important for them to know that you are encouraging them to seek treatment, not as a form of punishment or tough love, but because you care about them and want them to live a happy and healthy life that is not controlled by addiction. As you close your letter, you can also tell you loved one any consequences you have if they choose not to accept treatment. For example, “If you do not accept treatment, I will no longer financially support you.”
A well-written intervention letter can help your loved one understand that they have people around them that love and support them, that their addiction affects more than just themselves, and that seeking treatment is the best method for achieving sobriety and entering recovery. If you are trying to learn more about the different treatment options for addiction available, please give our Florida recovery center a call today.
For more about interventions, check out this related article:
Sources:
- Michael’s House. “How to Write an Intervention Letter.” Retrieved from https://www.michaelshouse.com/intervention/sample-letter/.