People with substance use disorder are often in denial about their situation and resist getting any help. Sometimes, they are unaware of the negative effects their behavior has on the people around them and even themselves.
Helping a loved one who is battling any addiction is difficult. A straight, honest discussion might occasionally pave the way for rehabilitation. Most times, however, a more focused approach is necessary. The family members and loved ones of the person may need to join forces with each other to carry out a formal intervention. A drug intervention program can be an important aspect of the treatment process for someone struggling with addiction.
A drug addiction intervention is defined as a situation where the family and friends of a person suffering from substance use disorder, join forces with each other to confront the addict and encourage them to commence treatment.1
During the intervention, the drug intervention team expresses their concern, discusses the effects of the addiction, and lays out what will happen if the person refuses to get help.
In a professional intervention, the family engages the services of a professional addiction intervention specialist, otherwise called an interventionist, to facilitate the discussion. The primary role of intervention specialists is to assist the addict’s family in planning and implementing structured meetings in which the group encourages a loved one to begin treatment.
Your loved one needs addiction intervention help if they struggle with substance abuse and fail to realize how their addiction affects their lives and that of their loved ones. Instead of acknowledging the consequences of their addiction, the addict may blame others. In cases like this, drug addiction intervention is needed to create awareness of the effects of their addiction and to gently nudge the addict towards the path of recovery.
The planning group must gather as much information as possible about the addiction, how it affects the person, and possible treatment options. You are better prepared when you have as much knowledge as you can garner about the situation.
SMART is an addiction intervention model that helps team members develop an achievable intervention plan for their loved ones to enter treatment. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
Only people who are loved or respected by the substance-abusing person should be on the team. This may be the person’s best friend, siblings, parents, or any other relatives. If an interventionist is present, he or she may help the family decide who should be on the intervention team.
Generally, anybody that cannot stick to the plan or anyone whom the substance-abusing person has little regard for should not be part of the intervention team.
Engaging an addiction intervention specialist before, during, and after the intervention can increase your chances of having good results. The addiction intervention specialist is better equipped with the knowledge and experience to provide guidance and suggest the best approach to the situation.
Another vital tip for a successful intervention is ensuring that there are no judgemental or emotionally abusive people in the intervention team. People who may have unmanageable mental health disorders should also not be on the team.
A well-executed intervention for drug abuse will give your loved ones the motivation they need to set out on the path to a healthier and drug-free future. Organizing a drug addiction intervention can be overwhelming for team members. However, various drug abuse intervention programs and addiction intervention services are available to provide you and the rest of the drug addiction intervention team, with the resources you need to stage an intervention.
San Diego Detox is equipped with intervention specialists to assist you and your loved ones in getting help for those in your life who are struggling with addiction. Please contact us today for more information.
