When a person struggles with addiction, it can be difficult to get the person into treatment. Denial may be strong and keep the person in the illness. Denial is powerful and it takes a carefully planned process to get an intervention just right. A group of loved ones will gather together to confront a person with addiction in order to accomplish the goals laid out. The whole process takes time to plan and patience so learn about some things to avoid to stay away from common mistakes.
What Happens
Substance abuse interventions require planning. A lot of planning, in fact, more than some families anticipate. Numerous strategies go into planning and preparing for the big day. Being informed of all options is the best way to avoid pitfalls. A specialist or interventionist will attend and support planning. Once it is planned, one or more members will be responsible for getting the person with addiction to the prearranged meeting place on time. An intervention typically concludes with the group giving the individual with addiction a choice (seek treatment or face consequences from family).
Things to Avoid
A substance abuse intervention should be taken very seriously with precautions taken to avoid certain actions and behaviors which could make the entire thing backfire. Certain things to avoid may include the following:
- Judgmental attitude or behavior
- Speaking out of anger
- Shaming or embarrassing the person with addiction
- Involving any person who condones or participates in person with addictions’ substance abuse
- Holding an intervention when a loved one is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Tips for Success
Some things to avoid above can be helpful but not to get caught up in those items, there are many ways to find success with an intervention. Below are some helpful tips:
- Find an intervention specialist
- Plan details in advance (specialists can help)
- Speak calmly, with respect, allowing others space to also speak
- Present actual facts and examples of effects of use on the individual speaking
- Make arrangements for a loved one’s treatment in advance so the option is right there in front of the person should he or she choose it
Tips are helpful but reality can be harder. The Villa provides support and information to help guide the process of interventions to make sure it goes smoothly. Find out how The Villa can bring peace to the process of supporting a loved one with addiction by calling us today.