Interventions

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Interventions

Everyone needs a little help at some point in life, but acknowledging this fact is not always easy.  Almost always, accepting the fact that a problem exists is easier said than done; this is why an intervention is a very delicate matter.  Suddenly ganging up on someone rarely helps because the person you’re trying to help becomes defensive and will try to resist efforts of intervention.  An intervention should always be done under the supervision and counsel of an experienced professional.

Interventions, even family interventions, are always delicate matters and should be undertaken with the utmost care and prudence. In the past, interventions have been done to address serious personal problems or traumas.  Now, it is one of the methods used in helping people battle addiction.  Most people with drug and alcohol problems do not realize they are victims of addiction until a friend, family member, or loved one tells them so; this is where intervention comes in.  An important consideration is that, first of all, the person embarking on an intervention should trust the interventionist.  It is natural for a person to be apprehensive and react defensively when faced by an unfamiliar interventionist.  This is why family interventions are very common; members of one’s family are often the most capable in assisting an interventionist during the process.

An addiction intervention can be direct or indirect.  A direct intervention is confrontational, in which family members and friends meet with the addicted individual, together with the interventionist, and discuss the problem and consider potential solutions.  An indirect intervention, on the other hand, is non-confrontational, in which the interventionist addresses the whole family or group and encourages them all to change for the better, taking the emphasis off the individual.  Direct intervention is more common, but it is also shunned because of its confrontational nature.  Since its inception in the 1960’s by Dr. Vernon Johnson, though, it has saved thousands of lives, and most interventionists live by it.  Some people will be more comfortable in an intervention group, however, and in these cases indirect intervention is applicable.

Whatever method is chosen, it is advisable to consult an interventionist to make sure all the bases are covered.  As mentioned above, an intervention is a very delicate matter; an experienced interventionist will make sure that it runs smoothly and as planned.