When I think of having an intervention I usually think of two friends stopping an addict in his or her tracks. They then sit down together and fire off as many questions as possible to get the addict to stop their behavior and pursue drug addiction support immediately. In a perfect world the addict would recognize that their actions are abusive and seek a rehab program right away. Sadly, it doesn’t always work that way as a truly successful intervention incorporates more factors than one might think. Professional interventionists are trained to deal with the worst, and it’s not about being charming or funny enough for their client. What makes a real difference is helping the addict realize that their reality is highly dangerous and motivating them to take the next step. What works for one family may not work for another, as we’re all highly unique and dysfunctional human beings.
Planning an intervention process must be customized with that “human” factor in mind, because every addict still wants to be heard and genuinely cared for. It’s extremely easy to see through a rehearsed script about becoming sober from someone who in reality couldn’t care less about your future. Finding an expert who can host an effective drug intervention is key to helping an addict get on the road to better health.
Drug Intervention Preparation
Most drug interventions occur when a person’s family or friends are concerned and want to help an addict to receive the treatment they needs. Yet, there are four factors experts identify that can come into the mix and lead to a failed intervention. Interventions should always be conducted within a group with people who truly care about the person who is struggling with a drug problem. Before the intervention even occurs, the group should cohesively map out each aspect of the intervention so they are adequately prepared. One of the biggest reasons why a drug intervention can fail is not planning the course of action enough. If a group decides to just go with the flow of how the addict will respond, the drug intervention itself will likely lack effectiveness and not strike a chord with the recipient.
A great thing to do is to specifically outline what each person will tell the addict when he or she is approached. Each member of the drug intervention should be ready to list all the reasons why the addict’s behavior has ultimately destroyed their health and lifestyle overall. The addict should see why they should start pursuing drug addiction support in order to save their future. Once they hear input from every member of the drug intervention, they then can be referred to a professional treatment center to get trusted help. Even if they don’t agree with seeing a stranger at first, knowing the huge benefits of having a customized treatment plan created for them may sway their opinion.
Focus on the Solution
Sometimes drug interventions might fail from people focusing too much on the problem. This could cause an addict to feel depressed, embarrassed, and more eager to crawl into a hole than ever before. If you can remember the last you time you were interrogated by your parents for hours after sneaking to a party or making another huge mistake, you’ll know the feeling. Anyone would feel too guilty to make a solid decision for themselves at the moment. As a result, in order for an intervention to be successful, spend more time emphasizing the solution that the addict can take. Yes, they’ve been blowing through their time, energy, and wallet for a few months but it’s not too late for them to turn things around. With that in mind, keep the battering and private questions toward to the addict at a minimum. Let them speak their mind and make sure to actually listen to what they have to say. A person who really needs help will be far better off being allowed to express their feelings instead of being interrupted or criticized constantly for their life decisions.
Pinpoint One Option
If you’re hosting a drug intervention and are providing too many options for the addict to choose from to get help, they’ll be confused. Almost everyone has a subtle fear of making big decisions for themselves so keep the treatment alternatives to a minimum. It’s extremely important to emphasize that professional treatment is needed immediately. If you tell them to start sleeping earlier, eating healthier, stay off the smoking, and change their social habits, the person will feel highly overwhelmed. They may also feel that their problem is not as severe if they can just do one alternative that’s easier or quicker than seeking a treatment plan. Additionally, allowing the person to choose from several treatment centers for themselves can be too much work. It’s easy to you, but they likely haven’t even crossed the bridge to becoming sober yet so limit your recommendations to one you highly respect.
Be Kind
It’s a simple motto but can’t be stressed enough to be successful. Remember to place yourself in the addict’s shoes and think of their feelings as you conduct a drug intervention. Having your close friends or family members point out a harsh truth in your life will never be easy. Stay away from any type of insult, getting angry if they’re stubborn to your complaints, or accusing them of events in the past that are just as serious but may not have to do with the drug addiction itself. Most importantly, be honest with yourself and plan the drug intervention as carefully as possible. Make the moment significant and strive for providing words that can leave a positive mark in the addict’s mind.