The drug addiction epidemic has cost over 800,000 people their lives over the past few decades – including over 70,000 lives in 2019 alone. Even those that are lucky enough to live will likely experience a wide range of physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual consequences.
Not only that, but drug addiction can create a significant strain on the individual’s relationships with their friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, and anyone else they come across on a daily basis. The more they let drugs take control of their life, the more mayhem drugs will cause.
The good news is drug addiction doesn’t have to be a life sentence – for the individual or for their loved ones. The problem is most drug addicts won’t receive the help or treatment they so desperately need. In fact, sometimes, those loved ones need to step in and take the lead.
What is an Intervention?
According to Merriam-Webster, the term intervention is defined as “the act of interfering with the outcome or course, especially of a condition or process.” In regards to drug addiction and drug prevention, an intervention is an act of confronting a loved one over their actions and behavior.
During an intervention, the addict’s loved ones – usually those that are closest to the individual or those directly impacted by their loved one’s addiction – open up about how the addiction is negatively impacting the health and wellness of those involved. It’s meant to be a wake-up call.
The goal behind an intervention is to convince the individual to seek help or treatment for their addiction. With the help of a professional interventionist, the loved ones reach out with an ultimatum in hopes of working towards a solution. If not accepted, there will be consequences.
Signs You Should Do an Intervention for Someone
When someone you know or love is struggling with drug addiction (or any other addiction, for that matter), time is of the essence. They need help, and they need it now – whether they know it or not. At a certain point, if they aren’t getting that help on their own, it’s time for you to step in.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common signs it’s time to do an intervention for someone:
- Continued increase in drug use or tolerance
- Struggling financially as a result of buying drugs
- Engaging in dangerous behavior in order to get drugs
- Declining mental capacity as a result of drug use
- The addict isn’t admitting they have an addiction
- The addict is refusing treatment, despite needing it
- Deteriorating physical health and appearance
When done correctly, an intervention can give the addict some valuable insight into how their addiction affects their loved ones – as well as their own physical and mental health. The sooner you hold an intervention for someone, the sooner they can start the addiction recovery process.
How to Get an Intervention for Someone
If you want to get an intervention for someone, it’s often best to enlist the help of a professional interventionist. They have the experience necessary to set up the intervention, act as a moderator during the intervention, and initiate the recovery process – if accepted by the addict.
The first step in the process involves planning the intervention – including who’s involved, where to hold the intervention, what the loved ones are going to say, what type of treatment they want their loved one to undergo, and what the consequences are if the loved one refuses treatment.
The second step is rehearsing the intervention – without the addict, of course. The professional interventionist in Southern California will help the individuals say the right things and ensure the process goes smoothly. Once a date is picked, and the addict is confronted, it’s time to do the intervention.
10 Tips for Holding a Successful Intervention
A successful intervention could be the difference between your loved one overcoming their addiction and continuing to suffer from their addiction. Your loved one must understand how their addiction could potentially worsen, especially without treatment.
Here are our top 10 tips for holding a successful intervention:
- Make sure you surround the addict with their closest loved ones.
- Choose a time when your loved one is sober and off drugs.
- Don’t do the intervention at home, but choose a comfortable location.
- Whoever has the closest relationship with the addict should speak last.
- Don’t do an intervention for someone until you’ve rehearsed it.
- Write a script to ensure you hit all the main talking points, don’t just wing it.
- Be mindful of your body language because it can trigger the addict.
- Stay level-headed during the intervention and don’t let emotions run too high.
- If the intervention doesn’t work the first time, be prepared to try again.
- Always hire a professional interventionist to ensure it goes smoothly.
Do you have a loved one that’s struggling with a drug or harmful substance addiction? Are you ready to nudge them towards treatment? Don’t worry, Thrive Treatment is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our evidence-based Santa Monica treatment programs and intervention help!
