It can be heartbreaking to watch somebody that you care about battle with alcohol or drug addiction. Often they will not realize that they have a problem or the impact that it is having on their life and relationships and in these times it is important to intervene. While it can feel awful to plan, ultimately you could be saving their life and it is the right thing to do so you should not shy away from it. A lack of communication during an alcohol or drug addiction can be highly dangerous as no treatment will be found, and the individual may not realize the damage that they are doing. These are the main steps to take to plan an intervention.
Speak To A Specialist
The very first step before speaking to the individual or those close to them is to contact an intervention specialist. These people will be highly trained in arranging successful interventions and they will be able to lead the way. This is important because it is a highly sensitive event and one which could backfire and make things worse if not carried out properly. It can be challenging to find the right person for the job, so carry out plenty of research beforehand to find someone that has a lot of experience and also specializes in the type of addiction that your loved one is battling with.
Decide Who To Approach
It is helpful to have a group of close family and friends for the intervention and these should be people that have been affected by the addiction. You should meet with these people (and the professional) to determine exactly what needs to be said and many people find it helpful to write down how the individual’s addiction has impacted them personally. It can be easy to forget in an emotional and highly charged setting so these letters can be of big help.
Creating A Detailed Plan
The specialist will work with you beforehand to establish a clear plan for how the intervention will unfold. This will also involve preparing each individual person for what to do if the individual attempts to negotiate their way out of treatment or even turns hostile during the intervention. It is important that everyone is well prepared in order for the situation to go according to plan and for the desired outcome to be realized.
Establish A Clear Goal
Following on from this, it is important that there is a clear goal to reach by the end of the intervention. In most cases, this will involve the individual admitting that they have a problem and agreeing to treatment in the form of a rehabilitation center. This means that you should find a suitable place prior to the intervention and this will depend on the type of insurance that the individual has. There are also treatment services that can help to find the best treatment facility for the individual which could make all the difference in terms of the success of the treatment. Those with UMR insurance can use addiction treatment services to identify the right treatment for the individual, for example. You can click here for more information about this.
Keep The Tone Positive
It is important that the tone is kept positive throughout the intervention if it is to be successful. The addicted individual needs to realize that they have a problem and that their behavior has negatively affected those that are closest to them. It is possible to do this through love and without attacking the person or giving up on them entirely. Although you need to show that you love them and will continue to love them, it is also important that you remain firm and insist that they find treatment for their addiction. It can be easy in such a highly charged environment for arguments and blame to be thrown around but having a professional there should keep things civil and ensure that what needs to be said is said.
Taking Action
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to interventions is waiting too long after the event to take the individual to treatment. If you were to wait a day or two, then the individual is likely to change their mind, back out and/or revert back to old habits. Instead, you should take the individual immediately to the treatment facility so that they can immediately get the help and support that they need to get clean and to start building towards a better life. This means that you should have financial and travel plans in place for the rehab center before the intervention.
Continued Support
An intervention can be emotionally draining and it is understandable that you will want to separate yourself from the situation shortly after it has ended. While some separation is ok, it is also important that you continue to provide support to the addicted individual while they go through treatment. This can be a long and arduous process and there are sure to be challenging days where they need your support. You will need to continue to show your love and support while they are in treatment but also once they get out. There is no “cure” when it comes to addiction so you will need to continue supporting them when they get out as they may need to build an entirely new life.
Planning an intervention for somebody that is addicted to drugs or alcohol can be intimidating and distressing. It is incredibly important, however, and you could be saving their life and hopefully one day they will thank you for taking action. As such a delicate and sensitive matter, an intervention must carefully be planned regarding gathering the right people and providing a supportive environment while remaining firm that they accept that they have a problem. You must also find a suitable treatment facility for them to enter as soon as possible. Having an experienced professional there as a moderator should ensure that the end goal is realized even if things get difficult during the intervention. This is then the start of their road to recovery and you will need to provide continued love and support throughout.
