Alcohol and drug addiction is a challenging issue for everyone involved. An intervention can motivate someone to seek treatment. If you’re in this situation and not sure how to go about planning an intervention, continue reading and learn about when to hold on and how to make it effective.
Definition of Intervention
According to the Mayo Clinic, an intervention is a “carefully planned process that may be done with friends and family, in consultation with a doctor or professional such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor or directed by an interventionist.” It can involve a member of a loved one’s faith or others who care about the individual.
Tips on Forming an Intervention
There are usually seven steps to planning an intervention.
- Choose Your Team Wisely. Intervention is a sensitive subject, so it’s incredibly important to pick the team that best suits the needs of the addict and all involved. They should be chosen with care and emotionally capable of doing what’s necessary. If there is any contention between the addict and any part of the team, it limits the success of the intervention and can make it even worse.
- Schedule the Right Time. The team discusses and sets a date, time, and location when the intervention will take place. Make sure it fits well with everyone, and ensure the person is sober. They need to be thinking clearly and not impaired. If they are, it can transform a calm situation into a dangerous one quickly. The intervention team needs to rehearse their message and detailed plan and keep other loved ones not in the intervention team in the loop.
Non-family members of the team keep the topic focused on the facts and shared solutions rather than the emotional responses that can come up with the family directly involved in the addict’s life. Keep in mind, this intervention needs to remain a secret from the loved one until it occurs. - Obtain information. The intervention group discovers how serious the loved one’s addiction is and then researches the condition and learns about effective treatment programs. They initiate arrangements to enroll the individual in a customized treatment program.
- Choose specific consequences. The intervention team needs to discuss what repercussions will happen if the loved one won’t accept treatment and how each person will react. It may include evicting a person from your home or getting the law involved.
- Script what to say. Get every intervention member to draft up their notes about specific issues the addiction has caused and how the person’s behavior has affected them. Express love and care and how they have confidence the addict can overcome their addiction and reclaim their life. Focus on “I” feelings.
- Hold the intervention with Love. Without discussing what is going on with your loved one, ask them to meet at the intervention location. Allow each person to address them and express their thoughts and feelings — all done with care and love to the addict. Present the addict with the treatment program and ask them to accept it then and there. And again, in a loving but firm way, inform them of what actions each team member will take if they don’t accept. Remember, don’t threaten a consequence unless you follow through with it.
Once the addict agrees to treatment, the intervention ends. It’s important to pay attention to the order of speakers. Allowing the right person to speak at the right time can be a game-changer. If children are involved, it may be better if you have them speak first. The spouse or SO should go last. - Follow up. Once the person is in addiction recovery, it’s important to involve everyone in their life and offer care and support while they go through detox and treatment. Relapse prevention is also crucial after treatment.
Loved One Needing Treatment? Contact Ardu Recovery Center
Addiction is a serious problem. If your loved one is struggling and needs the care and support of a residential treatment center, please contact us. We can provide customized treatment that includes a holistic approach for an effective recovery that teaches your loved one a different way of dealing with life’s challenges.
