Addiction Intervention: Is It Right for Your Loved One?

You know your loved one needs to get help for their addiction. But your loved one doesn’t want to get help. This is a common quandary among many families. In these situations, working with an addiction intervention specialist can be a productive way to bridge that gap. Let’s explore the addiction intervention process so you can determine whether it makes sense for your loved one’s recovery.

What is an Addiction Intervention?

According to the Mayo Clinic, addiction interventions involve a carefully planned process between family or friends and a licensed counselor, doctor, or addiction interventionist. Everyone meets together with the addicted loved one to address their addiction’s impact and request that they seek treatment. The intervention meeting will discuss:

• Examples of destructive behaviors and their impact on the loved one and their family/friends
• An addiction treatment plan with next steps and goals
• The actions family and friends will take if the loved one doesn’t seek treatment

While the addiction intervention process may sound straightforward, it can be challenging to execute. And there are often frustrations and tough emotions on both sides. After all, you’re confronting a loved one and having a difficult conversation about their addiction. It may be hard for them to accept it in the moment. But if done properly, an intervention can also lead to positive progress. 

When Addiction Interventions Are Needed

How do you know when a formal addiction intervention is needed for your loved one’s situation? Often, addiction interventions are associated with the following struggles, shares the Mayo Clinic:

• Alcohol addiction
• Prescription drug misuse
• Street drug misuse
• Compulsive eating
• Compulsive gambling

In these situations, you’ve probably already mentioned your concerns, but your loved one fails to see what’s happening as a problem. Denial in addiction remains the standard. Consequently, your loved one chooses not to seek treatment, and their actions and behaviors lead to negative consequences for themselves and others. At this point, an addiction intervention can be a chance to alter your loved one’s course before their struggles get worse. 

Working With an Addiction Intervention Specialist

Many families seeking intervention will work with an addiction intervention specialist. At Sana at Stowe, we’ve often collaborated with addiction interventionists and families of the loved one after a successful intervention leads to the addicted individual needing a place to get treatment. 

While families and friends can conduct an intervention on their own, there’s a lot at stake—including the possibility of a negative outcome. However, working with addiction intervention services can increase the likelihood of an intervention’s success. Bringing a professional into the process is especially helpful if your loved one:

• Has a serious mental illness
• Has a history of violence
• Has discussed or attempted suicide 
• May be taking several mood-altering substances

SOURCE: Mayo Clinic

According to the Association of Intervention Specialists (AIS), an addiction intervention specialist helps prevent negative confrontations and ensures constructive dialogue during the intervention. Many interventionists are also qualified mental health professionals. They will drive the entire process, from preparations beforehand to moderating the actual discussion. This may include assigning family and friends specific roles and facilitating a well-organized approach.  

What to Expect in the Intervention Process

An addiction intervention should never be done spontaneously. Producing the results you want requires advanced preparation leading up to the intervention. When you choose the intervention route and work with an addiction interventionist, there’s typically a process involved before, during, and after the intervention. The steps involved may include:

1. Seeking professional intervention assistance: This involves finding an addiction intervention specialist, counselor, medical provider, or other qualified professional to assist in the intervention.
2. Forming the intervention team: Your team may consist of close family and friends of the loved one, as well as the professional interventionist. The addicted loved one is not involved in the process.
3. Determining a plan: As a team, you decide on the day, location, and time of the intervention. You may outline the necessary preparations needed before the intervention and assign roles to various team members. This also includes what outcomes (or consequences) you’ll enforce if your loved one won’t accept treatment.
4. Researching: You learn about the nature of addiction, treatment options, and the recovery process so you can be informed. You also may make advanced arrangements for your loved one to enter into an addiction treatment program. 
5. Preparing what to say: Each team member plans what they’ll say during the intervention, addressing the impact of the addiction on their loved one and others. The goal here is to share facts in a loving, supportive, and honest way so that your loved one can grasp the seriousness of the situation. You may even rehearse the conversation as a team.
6. Conducting the addiction intervention: You arrange for your loved one to attend the intervention without sharing why. During the meeting, each team member shares, a professional treatment option is offered, and consequences are shared if the loved one doesn’t want to make changes. 
7. Following up: The team ensures the loved one stays in treatment, or that consequences are upheld if they don’t. Family and friends may need to adjust their lifestyles to help the loved one pursue their recovery and avoid relapse. 

Comprehensive Addiction Treatment in New England

At Sana at Stowe, we’re here both for addicted loved ones and their families—like you. As a comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility in New England, we can provide referrals to qualified addiction interventionists across the country. And we’ll also work with one you already have in place to plan an effective intervention and ensure the transition into treatment is a smooth, successful process. For help with next steps, call us today.