How to Hold an Intervention
When a family member has a problem with drugs or alcohol, the top priority is getting them the help they need. Watching as a loved one loses control of their life can be absolutely devastating. However, sending a loved one to treatment can be difficult as well. That is why it’s important to know how to hold an intervention.
Oftentimes, loved ones and family members are in denial about their substance abuse and unwilling to get help. They may also not believe that they’re addicted. What is painfully clear to everyone around them, may not be so obvious to the person with the addiction. We’ve outlined a few steps to take and factors to consider when devising a plan of action for getting your loved one help.
What Is an Intervention?
An intervention is a frequently used tactic to interrupt a loved one’s addiction and offer them treatment. In a typical intervention, family members and close friends join together in hopes that their loved one will accept help for their addiction.
The most effective way of staging an intervention is with the help of a trained professional, who can act as a mediator if conflict arises. Interventions can be taxing and emotional, however, without treatment— the chances of a loved one getting and staying sober is extremely low. Even if an intervention is unsuccessful, it lets someone know that help is available when they’re ready.
How to Hold an Intervention
Holding an intervention for a loved one struggling with addiction is a delicate process that requires careful planning, compassion, and understanding. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate through this challenging yet potentially life-changing event:
- Form Your Intervention Team
- Consult with a Professional
- Plan Your Approach
- Gather Information
- Write Impact Statements
- Choose an Optimal Time and Place
- Hold the Intervention
- Offer Immediate Treatment Options
- Prepare for All Outcomes
- Provide Support Afterward
Remember, interventions are emotionally charged situations that require sensitivity and strength from all parties involved – but they can also serve as a critical turning point towards recovery for many individuals battling addiction.
Form Your Intervention Team
Assemble a small group of people who are close to your loved one and are concerned about their well-being. This may include family members, close friends, or even colleagues who have been directly impacted by the individual’s behavior. It’s crucial to select participants who your loved one respects and trusts.
Consult with an Interventionist or Treatment Professional
Before proceeding, consider seeking advice from an addiction specialist, such as a counselor or interventionist. These professionals can offer valuable insights into the nature of addiction and guide you on how to conduct the intervention effectively. They may also participate in the intervention itself, providing support and expertise.
Plan Your Approach to the Intervention
Together with your team and any professionals involved, develop a structured plan for the intervention. Decide on the location, time, and sequence of events. Each participant should prepare what they intend to say in advance. The tone should be non-judgmental but direct, expressing concern while highlighting specific instances where the addiction has caused harm.
Gather Information
Educate yourself and your team about your loved one’s specific condition and treatment options available in your area or beyond. Having concrete solutions at hand—such as names of rehabilitation centers or therapy programs—can make it easier for your loved one to take the next step toward recovery.
Write Impact Statements
Each member of the intervention team should write an impact statement that outlines how the individual’s addiction has affected them personally. These statements should be heartfelt yet factual, aiming to help your loved one understand the breadth and depth of their addiction’s impact on those they care about.
Choose an Optimal Time and Place
Schedule the intervention at a time and place where your loved one will feel most comfortable yet is least likely to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Ensure privacy so that everyone involved can speak openly without fear of being overheard.
Hold the Intervention
Begin with someone whom your loved one feels particularly close to or respects greatly; this can help lower their defenses from the start. Each person then takes turns expressing their concerns based on their prepared statements. Avoid confrontation or blame. Instead, focus on expressing love, concern, and hope for recovery.
Offer Immediate Treatment Options
Present prearranged treatment plans clearly outlining what steps need to be taken for enrollment into a program immediately following the intervention if they agree to seek help.
Prepare for All Outcomes
It’s vital to understand that despite best efforts, not all interventions result in immediate acceptance of help by those struggling with addiction; they might react negatively or even sever contact temporarily.
Provide Support Afterward
Whether or not your loved one agrees to treatment immediately following the intervention, continue offering unwavering support without enabling addictive behaviors.
How To Be Prepared After An Intervention
If a loved one accepts help during an intervention, every effort should be made to take them to a facility immediately. Depending on individual circumstances, a medical detox facility is usually the first stop. In a medical detox, your loved one will receive 24/7 medical care as well as medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and therapy to begin their recovery.
A high quality inpatient treatment program is the next step in continuing treatment. Further, treatment is one of the most helpful steps a person can take for their recovery. After completing residential treatment, attending intensive outpatient, aftercare, and sober living keeps recovery at the center of your loved one’s life.
Royal Life Centers offers medical detox, residential inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and aftercare. Our focus is on high-quality care that places the guest first, making the decision simple when finding treatment for a loved one.
Family Resources
Al-Anon Meetings
Al-Anon is a fellowship for the families and friends of alcoholics. Families and friends need support too, which is why many support-group formats exist for the friends and families of alcoholics— whether they are in recovery yet or not.
Nar-Anon Meetings
Nar-Anon is a fellowship for the families and friends of addicts. The support you can gain from these support-group meetings is unimaginable. We encourage all family members and friends to be active in attending Nar-Anon meetings. These meetings will help loved ones process through the emotions and turmoil caused by the strain of addiction.
Reach Out For Help With An Intervention
Royal Life Centers at Sound Recovery knows how daunting the process of getting a family member or loved one into treatment is. We also know that it can be difficult to support a loved one during this time. Just remember, you are not alone. For these reasons, we simplify the process as much as possible — we want to let family members and friends know that once their loved one is in our care, we will take the reins to provide world-class addiction treatment.
We are a comprehensive addiction treatment center, meaning that we provide much more than addiction treatment. Our services span from helping your loved one apply for health insurance to finding employment and handling legal issues. Our programs are well-equipped with staff members who have your loved one’s best interest in mind. We will truly help, support, and treat your loved one fully. Because We Care.
If you have a loved one that needs help, Royal Life Centers is here for you. Reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have about our program. Our treatment experts are available 24/7 to take your call at (888) 716-4070.
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