Alcohol Drug Addiction Treatment: When Is an Intervention Necessary?

Have you found yourself wondering, “When is an intervention necessary?” If you are thinking about it, then it may actually be time to consider the possibility. When your loved one has an issue with either drugs or alcohol, it can be difficult to face the obvious truth. Many times, you hope that they find the strength within themselves to ‘get it together’. You may have even found yourself begging or pleading with no results. You eventually realize, though, that wishing the problem away is not helping, and you begin to understand that your loved one cannot or is unwilling to face the truth of his/her addiction. In these cases, you may need to consider an intervention.

To truly help your family member or friend face the reality of the situation, you must ensure that you are not part of the problem. This means that you need to be willing to face the truth as well. All too often, family members and friends deny the problem by protecting the addict from facing the consequences of his/her behavior. If you find yourself regularly making excuses (i.e. calling in to work) for your loved one, you are only enabling the behavior. An addict needs to experience the full consequences of his/her addictive behavior in order to even consider getting help. A professional will be able to assist you and your family and friends in getting the help your loved one needs.

What to Expect with an Intervention

An invention is often very helpful in getting the addict to realize that he/she is in denial. It also allows the addict to understand that his/her addiction is affecting everyone around him/her. An intervention is a way for family members and friends to express their concerns to their loved one in a non-judgmental manner in hopes that the addict will decide to get the treatment and help he/she needs. It is facilitated by a professional intervention specialist. Interventions work best when the addict knows, loves, and cares about those confronting him/her. Since the addict may become defensive or angry during the confrontation, the intervention specialist functions as the mediator and helps everyone to communicate their concerns effectively.

If you and your family and friends have decided that the time is right for an intervention, your intervention specialist will meet with you to prepare you for what to expect. This may often involve some type of role playing to create possible scenarios. In order for an intervention to be successful, it is critical that you be prepared for a wide range of reactions from your loved one. Coaching family members and friends beforehand increases the chances that the intervention will work. You must also be prepared to dole out ‘tough love’. For example, if you have been supporting (i.e. room and board, food, paying bills, etc.) the addict, it is time to stop.

It is important to remember that you cannot force someone to get sober. That is a decision that must be made by the addict, and often does not happen until he/she is isolated and receiving treatment. However, an intervention is definitely a step in the right direction. In the meantime, there are resources such as the Sober Sources Network available to you to get immediate support for yourself or loved one.

State's drug and alcohol misuse rates highlight the need for and value of good …

Filed under: alcohol drug addiction treatment

As many as 70 percent of drug and alcohol abusers in America are gainfully employed, according to the US Department of Labor and US Department of Mental Health Services, which uses a formula designed to quantify alcohol and drug “abuse.
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