Important Information about Drug and Alcohol Interventions

If you have come to the realization that you need to have a drug and alcohol intervention for a person that you care about, then you probably have questions. While you might have seen these happen on television in the past, they don't always work that way. In fact, a lot of people are surprised to find that interventions go a lot differently when they happen in person.

What are Interventions?

Drug and alcohol interventions are meetings where loved ones confront an individual about their drug or alcohol use. Unfortunately the drug abuser often assumes this an ambush, but it's actually a caring situation where people learn why their loved ones want them to get help. Often times this will result in the drug abuser going to rehab, but this is not always the case. The drug abuser has to be willing to get help, which normally comes through listening to their friends and family members explain why they want them to change their life.

How to Set up an Intervention?

Although there are interventions that happen on television, these do not occur by chance. These are set up by professionals in a calm and safe environment. If you want one of these to happen in your life, then you need to speak with a substance abuse counselor.

They will be able to provide you with guidance and advice that will ensure the intervention goes as smoothly as possible. This will increase the odds of your loved one actually agreeing to get help, which is what you want in the first place!

What are the Types of Interventions?

Johnson Model

The first type of intervention is one where family and friends meet together to confront the drug abuser. Basically the abuser will be told to meet someone in a spot, but once they enter the room they will see all of their friends and family members there. This can make them angry at first, but love and care can make them feel like they are in a safe place. It's important that a professional is hired with this type of intervention, as they will be able to provide advice about how to successfully get through the intervention.

Systematic

This is where the person who needs the intervention will be included in the process from start to finish. They will learn more about the intervention, what is going to happen during it and how it is going to work. This is something that can really help those that are willing, but a lot of drug users won't want to take the time to go through it, so they will avoid it at all costs.

With either of these intervention approaches, friends and family members write a letter to their loved one. This letter will explain their love for that person and what their addiction has done to their relationship. This should lead into giving reasons why they want them to get help and how that can bring them closer together. It's important to remember that these letters should be filled with love and support; otherwise the addict may not think the letters are meant to help them.

The end of the drug and alcohol intervention should be an ultimatum for the person to get help or get out. This can be extremely tough for family members, but it's something that has to be done. For example, this could mean going to rehab or getting kicked out of the house or suffering through a divorce.

Should You Have an Intervention?

Once a drug abuser has hit rock bottom and they have nowhere to go, many loved ones feel hopeless. This is generally when interventions happen, as they are a "last chance" to change things. You should have an intervention with a loved one if you want to help them change their life for the better. It is going to be hard and stir up a lot of emotions, but it can end up saving their life.

Most people who go through interventions end up actually getting help, which means being able to live a normal life once again. A strong support system will be necessary for anyone who agrees to get help, so all members of the intervention need to be willing and ready to be there through it all.