Intervention
What is Intervention?
Interventions are often the first step in a life-saving process that ends with the individual having successfully completed an addiction treatment program. It takes a great deal of courage to hold an intervention for someone who has become addicted to drugs or alcohol, and shows just how much these people care about the individual in question.
What is an Intervention?
Because an overwhelming number of individuals with a substance abuse problem or addiction fail to seek out help for themselves – or even recognize that they have a problem at all – it falls on the shoulders of friends, family and others to play a vital role in getting them help. In most cases, this process will involve an intervention.
An intervention is a meeting where people close to the addicted individual gather together with the purpose of:
- Showing that person that they have a problem
- Explaining how that person's addiction has impacted the lives of those around him
- Getting the individual into treatment immediately following the meeting.
It is crucial to consult a professional before holding an intervention. Although time is of the essence, you must first work with an interventionist to insure that everything is planned out properly and the right environment is created for the intervention.
Interventions can take place amongst family members, friends or even-coworkers. The most important “thing” required to be present at an intervention is a concern about the individual in question.
What Goes on at an Intervention?
Interventions are a chance for those people close to the individual to speak their minds freely and openly. Many people present at the intervention have likely been hurt by the individual in question during his period of drug addiction or alcoholism. For this reason, it is an important time to "clear the air" about a variety of issues without being threatening or confrontational.
There are times when the individual's drug addiction has become so bad that he is a danger to himself or others. At these moments, an emergency intervention should be called as soon as possible. Sometimes, the workplace is involved – as the individual's drug use has effecting performance of the team or company as a whole. Co-workers who care are also excellent candidates to call the intervention. They lack the history and conflicts of family and may provide a more unbiased approach.
What are the Benefits of an Intervention?
The primary benefit of holding an intervention is that it helps an individual with an alcohol or drug addiction get the help they so desperately need. There are, however, several “sub-benefits” to holding an intervention that can enrich everyone involved with the process.
These benefits include:
- Providing life-saving help and guidance for the addicted individual
- A chance for those close to the addicted individual to voice their thoughts and feelings
- A way to form a bond and “protective circle” around the individual who needs help from an addiction treatment program.
- A means of getting the addicted individual directly into an alcohol or drug rehab program following the meeting.
How to Organize an Intervention
After deciding that an intervention is appropriate, the next step should be to contact a professional interventionist. These professionals have extensive experience in organizing and executing interventions for alcohol and drug addictions.
Work with the interventionist to choose a non-threatening yet comfortable location. Discuss the individual's background and personal history in an effort to find the most effective course of action.
What are the Different Types of Intervention?
An intervention can be held for any number of conditions, but most commonly are associated with:
- Alcohol addiction
- Cocaine addiction
- Heroin addiction
- Marijuana addiction
- Vicodin addiction or OxyContin addiction
- Crystal meth addiction
In addition, there are a number of different groups and settings that can be the source of an intervention. These different types of intervention include:
- Corporate interventions – featuring employers or co-workers of the addicted individual. Holding a workplace intervention can greatly improve team performance and morale.
- Family interventions – held by parents, children or siblings
- Friend interventions – commonly held when a group of friends have grown concerned about a member of the peer group because of their substance abuse issues.
Intervention and Teenagers
If there is a teenager that has a drug or alcohol problem and requires an intervention, there are a few things to know. Some issues need to be dealt with more sensitively when a teenager is involved. The teen is likely to be more defensive and feel attacked more easily. These feelings can lead to worsening of the problem and a deepening of animosity among family members. Find a professional who works with teenagers and interventions specifically to make sure all these issues are being addressed properly.
For any intervention, don't wait to act! Find a professional who will help assess the situation and assist in the execution of the intervention itself. Remember, friends or loved ones might not recognize that they have a problem. It is in the hands of those who care the most to step in and get them into a treatment program.
Michael's House is a residential drug rehab facility that understands the fragile psyche of the individual who has just completed an alcohol or drug intervention. That's why the treatment staff at Michael's House works closely with every patient to rebuild their self-esteem while helping them overcome the physical and psychological nature of their addiction. For more information about this luxury facility located in Palm Springs, California, contact Michael's House today.
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