If you have a loved one who has a drug problem, one of the most loving things you can do for them is to schedule a drug intervention. The intervention involves gathering friends, relatives and possibly an employer along with an interventionist to confront the individual about his or her addiction.
The professional offers experience and help for those who will form the intervention team. Use of professional techniques can be a key to saving the life of an individual, helping the process go smoothly and not take a turn for the worse. The process can make help available to those who struggle with addiction.
Many people who are concerned about an addict will often continue putting off the confrontation. Unfortunately, nothing is gained by the wait. With this type of problem, the consequences of the individual’s actions may make the problem worse next time. Friends and family may put off the intervention believing that it could make things worse. However, their biggest fear should be that by doing nothing matters will become worse.
Drug abusers get to the point that they are in today sometimes due to family members who are trying to protect them from the consequences of their behavior. Family members learn to make excuses to other people about the abuse problem and work to get the individual out of the trouble that the drug abuse has caused.
In order for the intervention to work, it is important to stop such attempts at rescue. The addict must experience the harmful results of drug use to become motivated to seek help. Even if the individual has a run in with the New Jersey state police, you should allow him or her to suffer the consequences.
The interventionist will teach the members of the team to stop enabling the addict. Feeling sorry for an addict or avoiding him allows him to come and go as he pleases with no consequences.
For an abuser, this is a reward. People are leaving him alone. The family should stop enabling him, such as bailing the addict out of jail, paying his bills or letting him sleep over for free. Such actions are rewarding the individual for their behavior.
The interventionist will work for the ideal timing of the intervention to take place. There should be a bed in a residential detox center available immediately if the individual agrees to seek treatment. If possible, the intervention should take place when the addict is sober. This is often set up when they are some place such as work.
When confronting the addict, members of the team need to be specific. They should tell the individual that they are concerned about his drug abuse and want to help him to get support. Be specific in relating ways the individual’s abuse of drugs has resulted in problems for you.
Many drug abusers are accustomed to few if any consequences due to their action. Now is the time to state the consequences, not only as punishment for the abuser, but to provide protection for yourself from the harm caused by their abuse. The consequences can be refusal to be with an individual when he or she is under the influence.
For a spouse, the consequence may include physical separation. It is important to never make threats you are unwilling to carry out. The consequences should make it more uncomfortable for the individual to continue to abuse drugs than to get help.
Although the interventionist may ask for several family members to be present during the confrontation, one person should be the initial spokesperson. The others are there for support and not to gang up on the individual. The purpose of an intervention is to provide a safe place for the individual to seek help.
If the individual begins to ask questions, it is time for the interventionist to take charge. Support the addicted loved one and get him admitted to the program immediately. It is suggested to have a bag packed and transportation available for immediate help.
