Drug Addiction Interventions
A drug addiction intervention can be defined as a meeting set up by the family and friends of a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. At this meeting, those who attend will confront the addict or alcoholic with specific actions that have caused pain since she started using drugs. When each has had a turn, the one who is being intervened upon is given an ultimatum, asking her to choose between going to rehab immediately, right now or losing something of great significance. This threat of loss can be a marriage, custody of her children, a job, her home: whatever she has been endangering with her addictive behavior.
At Orchid Recovery Center, we can provide you with a professional interventionist if you would rather take part in the intervention rather than run it alone.
Drug Addiction Interventions: The Basics
Drug addiction interventions are not impromptu, but planned out ahead of time. Those who attend will prepare what they have to say before they arrive and bring notes if they like, arriving at a predetermine place at a set time. There is usually a professional mediator there from the rehabilitation center who is prepared to keep the proceeding nonjudgmental in nature and drive the addict to rehab. Orchid Recovery Center has professional intervention specialists who can help you. A bag should be packed for the addict to take with her so that she will be immediately ready to get in the car and go into treatment.
The objective is to help those who have been hurt to start to heal and to give the addict a chance to help herself before it’s too late. Orchid Recovery Center staff is available to help you from beginning to end.
Drug Addiction Interventions: What To Expect
An intervention is not easy, which is why it is essential that those who will attend have everything planned out before the event. Emotions are high and it is difficult to get through what you have to say without getting angry or crying. The mediator will be able to help you stay on track should you lose focus while you’re talking. The act of sharing feelings in a safe place is an incredible healing action and it can be the beginning of a new world view and attitude toward life for everyone involved.
Types of Drug Addiction Interventions
There are a number of different ways to go about conducting an intervention. Family interventions are the most common but workplace interventions are seen increasingly with everyone from unions to court-involved programs and senior personnel staging interventions when needed. When considering a family intervention, you have four basic types to choose from:
- Basic. Just asking someone to stop drinking without bringing anyone else into can be enough. When it’s genuine, done at the right time and by a person who is influential in the addict’s life, this may be all the intervention necessary to encourage her to go to drug treatment.
- Crisis. As the title implies, crisis interventions occur in the heat of a disaster that was caused by an addict’s behavior under the influence. These may be violent acts, car accidents, overdose or illegal activity. The effectiveness comes from the inarguable evidence that the addict’s behavior is out of control.
- Traditional. These are the most common and the type described above. Planned ahead of time by family and friends with the help and guidance of a professional intervention mediator, the traditional intervention has proved successful for decades.
- Group Intervention. A group intervention focuses on more than just one person. Most commonly used to confront large parts of or an entire family when their destructive drinking and using is hurting themselves and others. The goal is a commitment for everyone to change their ways and get clean and sober in support of themselves and each other, entering rehab if necessary.
No matter which intervention you choose Orchid Recovery Center is prepared to help you or your loved one embark on a new life, starting with a solid recovery.
Further Reading