Interventions save lives, but they can also make a difficult situation worse if not handled correctly. Knowing when to hold an intervention is key. Professional addiction intervention services will increase the chances of successful intervention for the person you love.
Contact Woodland Recovery Center at 662.222.2989 to learn more about intervention and all of our addiction treatment services.
What Is an Intervention?
An intervention for drug or alcohol addiction is a carefully planned process. It may include family and friends of the person with a substance use disorder and often includes the presence of a professional interventionist.
During the process, people gather to confront their loved one about their drug or alcohol use and discuss the consequences that will happen if their loved one does not accept treatment.
It is not an opportunity to air grievances or make empty threats. Interventions need to be carefully planned, including having treatment plans in place. Intervention steps include:
- Make a plan and choose a mental health professional to assist you
- Gather information about the treatment program that would be best
- Decide on an intervention team
- Decide which consequences you will present, such as moving out of the house or being fired from a job
- Write down what you want to say to help avoid distractions
- Hold the meeting
Your intervention team should include the friends and family members who will be most effective and focused. If your loved one agrees to accept treatment, remember there are many more steps to follow.
Others in the intervention team may also need therapy or addiction treatment. Agreeing to participate in family counseling and making other lifestyle changes shows your loved one you care about their recovery and gives everyone a chance to heal and adopt healthier habits.
Signs You Need an Intervention
Interventions shouldn’t be done on the spur of the moment and shouldn’t be taken lightly. From getting your loved one to the intervention to transporting them to treatment, timing is everything.
Signs the person you care about may be ready to accept help include:
- Life has become unmanageable or filled with conflict and constant stress
- Their financial resources are low, or they have large and growing debt
- They have poor physical health due to addiction
- They endanger others while under the influence
- They have developed dangerously poor eating and sleeping habits
- Their appearance and hygiene are poor
- They exhibit mood swings or signs of depression
While it is always preferable to work with a professional interventionist, it is especially advised if your loved one has a history of mental illness, has attempted suicide in the past, or is known to become volatile while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
How to Improve the Chances of a Successful Intervention
First, remember that addiction is an unpredictable disease. It may be obvious to everyone else that your loved one needs help, but that doesn’t mean they will agree to accept it. Knowing when to hold an intervention is a good start. To increase the likelihood that the person will go to treatment, consider these tips:
- Have a rehearsal with the intervention team
- Share information with all team members
- Avoid confrontation
- Focus on letting the person know how much they are loved
- Only offer consequences you are fully prepared to follow through with
- Stick to the plan and stay calm
- Anticipate objections and prepare responses
- Insist on a decision immediately, not in a few days or when they are “ready”
If your loved one still refuses help, follow through with any consequences you presented. You and other family members may benefit from attending family counseling or Al-Anon meetings to avoid co-dependent behavior.
Woodland Recovery Center Provides Intervention Services
If you recognize the signs you need an intervention, we can help. Contact Woodland Recovery Center at 662.222.2989 for more information about intervention services. You can also fill out our online form and let us get back to you.
