What’s a substance abuse intervention?

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Substance abuse interventions involve family and friends of addicts helping them understand their problem and take action through treatment. Interventions can be formal or informal, and involve a group of loved ones discussing addiction and its effects. Professional interventionists advise remaining calm and showing concern, citing specific incidents of addiction, and preparing for denial and resentment. The goal is to get the addict to join a treatment program immediately.

A substance abuse intervention is a technique used by families and friends of addicts to address the problem and offer help. Whether it’s alcohol, drug, gambling, or sex addiction, a substance abuse intervention can help the addict understand the problem and take action through treatment. An intervention can be formal or informal. The purpose of both is to lead the addict to help resources.

An informal substance abuse intervention involves a discussion with the addict. Formal interventions include a structured meeting with the addict. A group of family, friends, and coworkers usually gets together with the addict to discuss addiction and its effects on each person’s life. This technique is often used when other avenues of help have been refused. Whether informal or formal, professionals typically suggest conducting interventions when the addict is not under the influence of their addiction.

When seeking formal substance abuse intervention, the first step is to bring together all the people who are close to the addict. These people can be family members, friends, employers, colleagues or neighbors. Anyone who has witnessed first-hand the physical and emotional harm caused by the addict can play a role in the intervention.

The next step is to meet a professional who can guide the intervention. This person may be a therapist or counselor with experience in substance abuse interventions who can educate loved ones about what to expect during surgery. The interventionist can also help them organize their comments in order to increase the chances of a successful outcome.

Meeting the addict is the final step. Under the supervision of the interventionist, the group expresses concern for the addict, presents concrete evidence of the personal impact of addiction, and encourages the person to address the problem. Each participant states what consequence will happen if their loved one refuses treatment.

Professional interventionists usually advise those involved in the process to remain calm and show concern. They suggest that loved ones who deal with addicts cite specific incidents of the person’s addiction, as well as information they know firsthand. Intervention guides typically warn participants to prepare for denial and resentment from the addict.
The goal of a substance abuse intervention is to get the person to join a treatment program immediately. It is not enough for the addict to promise to quit. He or she must make an effort to get help during the surgery for it to be considered a success. The guide typically advises participants to work out all the details of treatment, including insurance and travel arrangements, so the addict can get the help they need right away.




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