If a loved one in your life is struggling with substance abuse problems, you may want to host an intervention for them. People who struggle with addiction may not seek help on their own, even if they know that they’re in a downward spiral.
It can be difficult to ask for help, especially for individuals who feel ashamed about what they’re going through. You can host an intervention with your loved one’s friends and family present, hire an intervention specialist, or ask a religious leader to help you stage an intervention. Interventions save lives, and can be the reason someone decides to commit to a treatment program.
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What Is An Intervention
An intervention is a meeting, often held by the family and friends of someone who is struggling with addiction. Interventions are carefully planned and thought out in advance to encourage a person to get treatment for their substance use disorder. There are a few factors that contribute to a successful intervention, including having a mediator present, and choosing a date and time when it’s more likely that the person will be sober.
Interventions are an act of love and compassion, and a practical way to let a person know that they have a support system that will help them through the recovery process, but will no longer enable any destructive behavior.
1: Find A Neutral Place
It’s important to find a neutral place where the person will feel safe. Places that may be triggering, such as the family home or workplace should be avoided.
The goal of an intervention is to get through to the person struggling with a substance abuse disorder, so speak to their friends and family to get an idea of where they will feel comfortable. It’s best to choose a place that is not invasive, but not too public either. Here are a few ideas of neutral places:
- A therapist’s office
- A religious leader’s home or office
- The home of a friend
- A hotel conference room
2: Have A Mediator
It’s important to have a mediator present when you hold an intervention. Seeing someone you care about struggling with dependency on drugs or alcohol is heartbreaking and it can be difficult for family and friends to lead an intervention without getting their feelings involved.
An ideal mediator is a compassionate, neutral third party who has plenty of experience and a good track record with interventions. It’s important to choose a mediator that the person will be receptive to, who can also keep the conversation calm and focused on the facts. Here are some people you can use as a mediator:
- A therapist or counselor
- An intervention specialist
- A religious leader
- A family mediator
- An addiction recovery professional
3: Plan Your Words Carefully
Interventions are not spontaneous interactions, and you should plan everything you’re going to say in advance. Even the best interventions can feel like a breach of trust for the person struggling with substance use, so you want to make sure that you use language that is calm and direct.
There shouldn’t be accusations, blame, or personal attacks of any kind in an intervention. Intervention specialists usually recommend that you write a letter or statement of impact, which is an honest and kind explanation of how you feel about this person’s substance use, the effect it’s having on you, and the different treatment options available to them.
Types Of Interventions
There are many types of interventions you can choose from, including the ARISE and Johnson models of intervention. The Johnson model is a family intervention held with an intervention team present, and is designed to confront the individual about their substance abuse.
Each person present shares how the person’s addiction affects them, and at least three different treatment options are presented, which may include short term and long term care. The ARISE model is similar, but is an intervention process in which more than one meeting may be held to encourage a person to get treatment, and if necessary present them with serious consequences if they won’t get help.
How We Can Help You
Ethan Crossing is a treatment center you can trust. Located in Springfield, Ohio, we offer a variety of treatment programs including dual diagnosis treatment for people struggling with substance abuse disorders and mental health issues. We are on a mission to connect with people and guide them through every step of their recovery journeys.
Our contemporary healing spaces and dedicated, trained staff are here to empower you and help you achieve your recovery goals. We offer several treatment modalities for addiction and mental health disorders and customized treatment plans that take your specific needs to heart. Reach out to us today if you or a loved one are struggling with addiction.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/intervention/art-20047451
https://solutions-recovery.com/staging-an-intervention/different-types/
https://apfmnet.org/family-mediator-addiction-intervention/
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/intervention