5 Tips To Hold An Intervention

Absent that admission, the addiction sufferer might need a reality check from a family member or friend who then becomes the interventionist.Realistically, the only way an addiction sufferer is going to be able to beat their addiction is to seek treatment. If they don't realize they have an addiction, they won't be likely to ask for help. That's when a family member or friend should consider stepping in through an intervention. One of the keys to performing a successful intervention is handling the process the right way. Handling the process the right way is especially important because you might only get one chance to make an impression on the addiction sufferer. It's is for this very reason that we would like to offer the following five (5) tips on how to handle a proper addiction intervention for substance abuse, alcohol addiction, mental illness, and prescription drug use:

Tip 1: Consult With an Intervention Specialist

Whether or not you want help with the actual intervention, you can still benefit by consulting with an addiction intervention specialist. They can save you a lot of time and effort by helping you understand the process and create a plan for carrying it out. At Hollywood Hills Recovery, several of our leading staff members are quite knowledgeable about the addiction intervention process. They can be a great source of information about planning the intervention, carrying out the intervention, and ultimately getting the addiction sufferer into a reputable addiction treatment center for their substance abuse problem or addiction.

Tip 2: Plan the Intervention and Choose the Intervention Team

A well-planned intervention will lay the foundation for the participants to stay on message during the intervention process. The first step in the planning process is to select participants. Each participant should have some kind of meaningful relationship with the addiction sufferer. It would also be nice if they might have a vested interest in the outcome of the intervention. This means that it might not always be a great idea to include the whole family, but instead choose close friends of the person suffering from addiction. The next step in the planning should focus on determining when and where to hold the intervention. As far as the when, it's very important that the intervention be held at a time when the addiction sufferer is least likely to be impaired. Success is far more probable if the addiction sufferer understands what is taking place and why. Surely, someone in the intervention group will know the times of day when the addiction sufferer might not be high or using.Where to hold the intervention can get a little tricky. Given the possibility the addiction sufferer might want to flee, it might not be a good idea to hold the intervention in a place that is too comfortable for them. The home is not recommended. With that said, it should be a private place with which they are familiar and might not be intimidated.Note: Planning the intervention should include a backup plan regarding what should be done if the intervention turns confrontational, violent, or the addiction sufferer decides to flee. At this point, you may need to take more drastic measures such as seek professional help such as a mental health professional, social worker, support group, or professional interventionist.

Tip 3: Rehearse the Entire Intervention

The addiction sufferer is more likely to accept the seriousness of the intervention if everyone knows what they want to say and says it at the appointed time. As part of the rehearsal process, the order of participation should be predetermined. Recommendation: the order should go from the individual with the most prominent position in the addiction sufferer's life to the one who is least prominent.

Tip 4: Hold a Non-Confrontational Intervention

When holding the intervention, all participants need to stay on message. The message should always steer away from accusations while trying to appeal to the sanctity of the relationship between the addiction sufferer and the speaker. It's fine to speak to how the addiction sufferer's behavior is causing issues, but no one is served by attacking the addiction sufferer for behaviors they can't control. As part of the intervention process, boundaries should be established for the future behavior of the addiction sufferer. Yes, one of the boundaries should include a "strong" request that the addiction sufferer seeks treatment.

Tip 5: Provide Treatment Options

Hopefully, the intervention will go well, and the addiction sufferer will agree to seek treatment. At this point, the person leading the intervention should be able to offer information as to where the addiction sufferer can get the help they need and the types of treatment plans, treatment providers, and healthcare professionals that are available to them. It's a good idea if the person leading the intervention has made prior contact with a treatment facility that is willing to accept the addiction sufferer as a client. Failure to take this step could harm the integrity of the intervention. If you would like more information about holding an intervention, You can contact one of our treatment professionals at Hollywood Hills Recovery. During the conversation, we would be glad to discuss the possibility of offering your loved one the help they need.