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Beach House Recovery Center » Blog » The Complete Guide to Drug and Alcohol Intervention
You did not picture things turning out this way. It is heartbreaking to watch your loved one continue to destroy themselves and their future. You’ve had it with the sleepless nights, lies and dysfunction. You are afraid of what may happen next. You’ve talked to other people in the addict’s life, and you all agree that things can’t go on like this. An intervention may be the only solution left.
An intervention is a face-to-face meeting of concerned friends and family members and a person struggling with drug and/or alcohol addiction. The goal is to communicate the seriousness of the problem and demonstrate how the addiction is affecting important areas of the addict’s life. By nature of their illnesses, many addicts are in denial and don’t realize the toll their dependence is taking on those they love. An intervention sends a clear message that the addiction will no longer be tolerated. Ultimately, the goal of an intervention is to convince the dependent person to go to a qualified treatment center for help.
Here are some tips on how to organize a successful intervention:
An addiction professional can help you plan a successful intervention. This person may be a psychologist, social worker, addiction counselor or interventionist. The professional will look at your loved one’s individual situation and suggest the best possible approach. He or she will guide you in choosing the best treatment facility and follow-up strategy. It may be especially important to hire a professional to help you with the intervention if your loved one has shown suicidal tendencies, has a history of violence, has a mental illness, or may be taking a combination of mood-altering drugs.
The typical intervention consists of four to six people close to the person struggling with addiction. An intervention specialist can help you decide who should join the team, but in general, team members should be people the addict respects, loves, likes, admires or depends on. An intervention usually involves friends and family members but may also include co-workers, clergy members or others who care about the person with dependence. Do not include anyone who:
An intervention is most likely to succeed if it includes educated participants. Group members should take time to research the type of addiction and extent of the person’s problem prior to the intervention.
Discuss the best type of treatment facility ahead of time and plan to have transportation ready and waiting at the intervention should the loved one choose to get help. The best type of treatment facility will depend on the severity and type of addiction. An addiction professional can help you decide the most appropriate treatment options. You can also contact national organizations, local clinics or online support groups for treatment advice.
Members of an intervention should work together as a team. A poorly planned intervention may cause the addict to feel attacked, which will make him or her less likely to seek treatment. The group should meet ahead of time to come up with a date and location, take on specific roles and create a consistent message. The addict should not know anything about the intervention until the day it takes place. Here are some additional aspects to plan:
An intervention is a very confrontational situation. As such, the addict may react defensively. He or she may get angry and feel resentful and betrayed. Plan calm, rational responses to the objections you are likely to get.
Ask your loved one to give the group a decision about whether or not he or she will accept the offer for treatment. Don’t let him or her take a few days to think it over, which will only encourage further denial or a binge.
Many interventions succeed, giving addicts an important first step toward recovery. However, some interventions do fail. Emotionally prepare yourself for your loved one to refuse treatment, but remain hopeful for the best. And remember, even if the initial intervention fails, it may get the wheels turning in an addict’s head and lead him or her to seek help down the road.
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Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, Beach House can help. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and that the treatment center you choose matters. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to make the right decision for yourself, a friend, or a family member. This is why a counselor is waiting and available to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease regarding the next steps. Many of the staff at Beach House have walked in your shoes. If you feel you’re ready or want more information about how to help a loved one, we can help today. You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida.
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