An intervention is a gathering of an individual’s family and friends to confront their loved one who is struggling with substance abuse, get them to admit that they do have a problem, and then agree to seek treatment. Although the individual may have caused harm to their loved ones while using drugs or alcohol, it’s important to stay supportive and encouraging and not place any blame on the person or attack them for their actions.
Though you can explain that their behavior has harmed people, do so from a place of love and encouragement. Otherwise, you risk upsetting the individual and causing them to become defensive or shut down, and they will not listen to the group. If an intervention goes wrong, either because people get too emotional or the individual is simply not ready to admit to their alcohol or drug addiction, this event will likely further alienate them from those who tried to get them help.
The goal of an intervention is to have your loved one agree to attend a treatment center, so it is important to not succumb to anger about their actions. Although there are chances that the intervention may not go as planned, and your loved one may hold resentment against the group who carried out the intervention, it is important to put these worries aside and hold the intervention out of the best interest of the individual.
Of course, there are ways to increase your likelihood of hosting a successful intervention, such as hiring a professional interventionist to provide structure to the event and coach your intervention team on effective methods of reaching through to your loved one. Having a person experienced with hosting interventions will increase the chances of your loved one listening to what the group has to say and agreeing to a treatment program.
Interventions do have a high chance of success, and even if the person is upset in the moment, there is always the likelihood that they will come around and agree to get help as long as their loved ones stay supportive throughout the whole time. Addicts are more likely to seek treatment when they experience an intervention than when left to make the decision on their own, although this doesn’t always translate to effective treatment that creates lasting sobriety.
Because alcohol use is so prevalent, with heavy drinking and binge drinking playing a big part in party culture, many people develop alcohol dependence without even realizing they have a problem. If you have a loved one that is struggling with alcohol use disorder then you may be wondering how to get them to begin a treatment program for alcohol abuse at a rehab center. Many times, people will stage an intervention to confront their loved one about alcohol addiction.
An intervention is an event where the individual’s family and friends will gather to address the person’s drinking problems and encourage them to begin addiction treatment. Interventions for alcoholism involve discussing concerns about your loved one’s addictive behaviors and how they have impacted the people they care about. Although you are confronting the alcoholic, you should do so calmly and compassionately and avoid placing blame on them or attacking them for their actions.
The goal of intervention for alcohol abuse is to get the individual to stop drinking. As alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from uncomfortable to dangerous, the intervention team should suggest treatment options to help the person become sober. This will usually involve medical detox at a detox center to help the individual withdraw from alcohol safely, and then a treatment program that includes counseling, behavioral therapies, and support groups to address the underlying causes of their alcohol addiction.
To help ensure a successful intervention, it is recommended to hire a professional interventionist to help structure the intervention process, guide the intervention team, and lead the overall event to keep everyone involved on a positive track that doesn’t devolve into anger toward the individual. It is important to stay positive and encouraging so that your loved one does not see the intervention as an attack, but rather as an offer of help.
An intervention should help encourage your loved one to seek treatment at a rehab center, and staging an effective intervention should end with the individual agreeing to get help. Although you are giving them the choice of whether or not to seek treatment, there should be an incentive to make the right choice that will benefit them in the end.
This will typically involve setting boundaries and creating consequences if they choose not to attend a treatment center to disrupt the pattern of enabling the addict. These consequences should be firm but not harsh, as the most important aspect of the intervention is to remain supportive.
Offer your loved one help with the treatment plans you provide, such as letting them know you will attend family therapy sessions or support group meetings with them, or offer to give them a ride to their treatment center or counseling sessions. This will show your loved one that you truly do care and want the best for them and are not trying to punish them for their addiction.
If the individual agrees to start a treatment plan, the next step is to decide together on the best rehab center for their needs. For individuals with severe alcohol addiction, it is recommended that they join a program that offers alcohol detox, support groups and counseling sessions, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatment to help them maintain sobriety. At Innovative Health, we provide all of these treatment options in an outpatient setting which can make your loved one more willing to take this first step toward recovery.
Recovery is a complex process with many ups and downs, and many people will, unfortunately, relapse occasionally during their recovery. While this is a setback, it doesn’t mean that all hope is lost, as long as the individual recognizes their mistake and chooses to receive treatment again. Successful treatment often depends on the strength of the individual’s support system, so their family and friends should stay dedicated to helping their loved one get better.