Intervention: How to Help Someone with Addiction

In one „Intervention“ episode, cameras roll as „Ryan,“ a young drummer addicted to OxyContin, shoots up as many as 15 times a day. And then there’s „Betsy,“ who drinks up to five bottles of white wine a day, despite already having gone to detox several times. By Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks, LMFT

Michelle C. Brooten-Brooks is a licensed marriage and family therapist, health reporter and medical writer with over twenty years of experience in journalism.

In many cases, a drug intervention takes place when someone denies that their drug use is causing problems. The addict may place blame on others rather than accepting the effects of their abuse. The first step to solving financial problems is to identify the key behaviors that cause the problem, whether that is overspending, reckless gambling or investing, or simply living beyond one’s means. The next step to addressing these problems is to create a budget, identify any unnecessary spending, and eliminate the behaviors that caused the problem.

Following a few guidelines will help you have a discussion:

In these situations, interventions caused an even greater problem for the person with the addiction and an even greater rift in their family. Some clinicians have had the experience of working with people whose families have conducted interventions. In some cases, they report that interventions have been helpful in persuading their loved ones to get help.

But due to their wealth of experience, an interventionist has an entire playbook, backed by the ability to think in the moment — an essential skill that you may need to rely on as the intervention unfolds. If the interventionists are emotionally charged, chances are there won’t be too much listening and understanding occurring. One unfortunate result of an intervention can be a rift in family support that https://stylevanity.com/2023/07/top-5-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-sober-house.html might otherwise provide long-term encouragement for recovery. It can easily backfire, making the person experiencing addiction feel attacked, alienated, and misunderstood instead of supported. Professional intervention is not an option for every family and every situation. The decision to choose the intervention path is one that should be made carefully and with the advice of an experienced counselor.

Intervention Strategies and Techniques

They may also be encouraged to reflect on why they use and how their lives will change by lowering their use. People who want to stop substance use will most likely be referred for additional evaluation or treatment. At Relief Recovery Center, our exemplary team will provide you with all the necessary tools to overcome addiction and start living a better life. Our beach-side center is ready to help you today, reach out to our compassionate team to learn more about our addiction treatment programs. An interventionist will elect a team leader who will act as the main spokesperson throughout the process.

It may take an individual some time to respond to the intervention and seek out treatment. Most people abusing alcohol or drugs will not be willing to check themselves into a rehab center as soon as the intervention ends. So, be patient, show empathy, and understand the difficult road that the person is facing.

The Cost of Addiction Intervention Services

As with many other conditions, early intervention and treatment can help your loved one get better faster. You also want it to show your hope that they will participate in the treatment being offered during the formal intervention and that there will be clear, defined consequences if they don’t. Finally, during the actual meeting, it’s important that every person shares their specific thoughts and consequences that they’re ready to follow through with if the person doesn’t go to treatment. There are specific interventionist certifications that professionals should have.

In some cases, these behaviors may be traced back to medical problems such as dementia or drug abuse. As a rule, the more serious the problem, the more you should consider professional help. It’s likely that a 24-year-old with $20,000 in credit card debt doesn’t require a professional interventionist. For those who are losing their ability to make sound financial decisions, a financial power of attorney can help protect their personal assets.