How To Stage An Intervention

Few things in this life are as sad as seeing a loved one suffer from an addiction. Frankly, if they are not willing to get help for themselves, an intervention underpinned by family support is the next best solution.

It can be a difficult subject to approach, especially when dealing with loved ones. But knowing when, why, and how to stage a successful intervention could be the key to finally helping the abuser get clean. 

What Is An Intervention?

In its simplest definition, an intervention is when the family and friends of an addict step in to help the abuser finally seek the help they need. 

An intervention can be completed by a single person, such as a spouse. However, the most powerful impacts are often gained when a group effort is made. It lets the addict know that they have family support behind them and that they are not alone on the road ahead.

Around 20 million Americans suffer from drug addiction. While some are capable of spotting the damage caused and will subsequently seek help for themselves, interventions are used when they are not ready to regain control for themselves.

Interventions can be used to support drug addicts across all substances and severity levels. It doesn’t need to reach a stage where a person can barely get out of bed without their next hit for an intervention to be needed. Here are some situations when it might be necessary:

• Drug abuse has resulted in physical and mental health issues.
• The abuser is at risk of losing relationships with their spouse or children.
• The abuser has let their career and financial health slide.
• A drug user detaches themself from activities not involving drugs.
• The drug abuser has tried and failed to quit.

Why Stage An Intervention?

With over 70,000 Americans dying from overdoses each year, in addition to the many more who die from the side effects, interventions are a key step to preventing a loved one from suffering that fate. 

Likewise, it can prevent a drug abuser from causing serious long term side effects relating to their physical and mental health, as well as their lifestyle and finances. Interventions are a powerful tool that can make a loved one finally come to terms with the severity of their problem and the destruction it brings – not only to themselves but to the people around them.

Staging an intervention signals a bookmark moment in the person’s relationship with drug. As long as the next chapter is completed in style, it can become day one in the rest of your loved one’s life.

How To Stage An Intervention

Interventions are emotionally testing for family members as well as the abuser. Therefore, it’s vital that you plan the process to ensure that the desired response is achieved. Because if this process doesn’t work, it will be difficult to find another solution.

For starters, you should partner with a team of drug addiction professionals who will assist you. Following this, the below steps should lead you to success.

1. Build a support group of people who will complete the intervention. In most cases, a small group of family support (around five people) who the addict loves and trusts will work best.
2. Find a suitable moment to get together for the intervention. It should be in the next few days, and ideally at a moment when your loved one is sober and does not have work or other commitments.
3. Prepare some notes and stories that each member of the support group wants to share with the abuser to show love, support, and compassion. Aggressive tactics are unlikely to work.
4. Prepare to be met with some anger from the addict, who will either deny the addiction or suggest that it’s nobody else’s business. Prepare some answers of how you will respond.
5. Explain the benefits of getting clean and how it will help them gain a better quality of life with both immediate and long term benefits. And confirm you’ll be ready to help once they return home.
6. Be supportive, but give them an ultimatum. It’s now or never for your loved one to seek a dedicated service that includes withdrawal symptom management and ongoing help.
7. Take your loved one to the rehab center and be sure to speak with the experts to gain a better understanding of addiction and the aftercare support, such as therapy, that may be needed.

When each of those steps is in place, the hopes of a successful intervention are greatly increased. And your loved one will thank you in the long run.