In serious cases of addiction, intervention may be needed

When an alcoholic or drug addict hits bottom they may make the very difficult decision to seek help. Often this follows years of substance abuse that have cost them their job, home, and financial security, along with most of their relationships with family and friends.

But there are times when the addicted person is careening towards disaster after having lost everything already – and still they won’t, or can’t, stop.

This is when an intervention may be required. Loved ones who have come to the end of their ropes may come to the realization that if they don’t do something drastic, the addict will continue to deteriorate to the point of death.

Often the addict who is a candidate for an intervention is someone who is in denial about the gravity of their problem. They may know they have a serious problem but they aren’t willing or able to take steps to change.

Or, they might completely deny the problem altogether. They may think that those bringing the issue up may be overreacting to what they see as a manageable situation that they can “handle.”

At this point, those close to the addict will seek the help of a professional who will organize an intervention. This is a meeting with the addict that they aren’t expecting.

The interventionist will gather information from the addict’s loved ones about the addict and his or her using history. The strategy for the intervention will usually be different depending on the user’s drug of choice and their attitude towards their problem.

For example, someone who has been using their drug of choice heavily for many years will require one approach to intervention, while someone who has just recently had their drug use worsen will require something different.

With all the necessary information gathered, the professional will schedule a time with the family for the intervention to take place. Sometimes, this could involve the professional and one or two other people. Other times, it will be decided that a large group of loved are needed to confront the drug addict.

The reason a professional is necessary for the intervention is that they have the expertise to know how to approach the addict, who is likely to be resistant to this approach. Also, this intervention specialist is likely to be much more objective about the user and his/her patterns of addiction.

How does the intervention proceed?

The interventionist may meet several times with the addict’s loved ones to plan the intervention. This professional will educate everyone about the nature of their loved one’s addiction and the seriousness of that addiction.

Each participant will write a statement to the addict that they will read at the intervention. This statement will express love for the addict but also recount how that person’s disease has negatively impacted them.

The addict may react negatively, even angrily, and this is where the interventionist knows how to maintain control of the intervention. If the intervention is successful, the addict may then be sent immediately into treatment.