Intervention
If you care, is there really any other choice?

Intervention and the Family

The friends and family gather together to help the addicted person. The process is designed to convey the love and concern they have and not to display any anger or resentment that may exist. Each person takes an opportunity to state his/her concern backed up by actual events that cause concern and a desire for the individual to seek treatment immediately.

Consequences

The impact of an intervention is its ability to present and create the "crisis" in the addicted person's life to a point where the person sees treatment as the only option. If the person chooses not to engage, then some significant consequences go into effect. In general the participants withdraw their support until the person seeks help. This is not punishment but an attempt to protect one from the abusive behavior that an addicted person engages in on a regular basis. The family cannot control the drug or alcohol use, however they can control their own response to its use.

Goals

The primary goal of any intervention is to motivate the person to seek immediate treatment. There are many reasons for attempting the intervention even if the person doesn't engage in treatment.

1. The enabling system is destroyed and the addict will find it difficult continuing without their chief enablers.
2. Family/friends receive drug/alcohol education so that they can better deal with addiction in the future.
3. Participants are exposed to locally available resources.
4. The conspiracy of silence is broken. Secrets are exposed.
5. The family is exposed to various support groups (for example, A.A. and Al-Anon). They learn about addiction and the recovery process.
6. Contingency plans may be generated. The addicted person may want to try it their own way (outpatient); however if a relapse occurs then consequences occur.

Limitations

Family interventions are not successful in some cases. All individuals must agree that the person is harmfully involved in drugs/alcohol and needs treatment immediately. The participants must be able to convey their message in a nonjudgmental, non-punitive manner.

This is difficult knowing the underlying anger and resentment that exists with all those who are substance affected. A seed may be planted which may result in the individual getting help in the near future. We cannot predict what message will be heard and who the messenger will be.

The process can be hampered if:

• The family no longer cares what happens to the person.
• They are too angry and punitive.
• They fear the anger of the addict/alcoholic.
• They are in their own denial in regards to the problem.
• Other family members may be chemically dependent and are not willing to face their own issues with substances.
• The family is geographically dispersed and members use alienation or distance as a mechanism for self-protection.
• The family is too fearful to risk changing the family system that is well entrenched.

If any of these conditions exist then you will probably need the help of a professional to work with and train the family.

Successful Interventions will work with you to ensure a compassionate, loving and non-judgemental intervention.

Principles of Intervention

How you can help

Intervention and the Family

Intervention Preparation

Intervention Guidelines

"The primary goal of any intervention is to motivate the person to seek immediate treatment. There are many reasons for attempting the intervention even if the person doesn't engage in treatment."