Intervention is Better Than Cure: 5 Things You Can do to Ensure a Successful Drug/Alcohol Intervention

An intervention is an arranged meeting between the addict/alcoholic and their close family members, friends, and possibly a neutral party like a therapist where the addict is lovingly confronted about their addiction or substance abuse problems. The key word and idea here is “lovingly” – there are a few different ways to conduct an intervention, but to do it with love and care is the most important consideration. Help With Interventions Drug abuse can affect all types of people, from teenagers to men and women.  Having an intervention isn’t always easy; in fact,  it can often be emotionally difficult for all of the parties involved. Drug and alcohol addiction is an illness, and one that can be extremely difficult for family and friends of addicts to understand if they haven’t gone through it themselves.  Therefore, it is important to keep this in mind when speaking to them.  Having said that, here are five helpful tips for having a successful intervention:

1. Stay Calm: The last thing your loved one needs to see is how anxious you are.  Keeping calm will enable you to think more clearly and deal with the emotions that he/she may have.
2. Avoid Using “Alcoholic” or “Addict”: Keep in mind that your loved one may feel cornered or put on the spot during the intervention. Avoid using trigger words that will make him/her feel singled out.
3. Show Concern: It is important to emphasize that you are not there to put him/her on the spot, but rather, to show your concern.  It is important to let him/her know that you are having the intervention because you care about them and want to support them in their drug or alcohol abuse recovery.
4. Use “I” Statements: It is important that you let your loved one know how their addiction has affected you.
5. Wait until He/She is Sober: Avoid confronting your loved one when they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

For more information about drug and alcohol treatment, please visit The Right Step today! [Photo Credit: Arbron]