There are many different types of interventions, and they have been constructed in this way as some intervention styles will work better in some situations than in others. Truthfully, one intervention system might work wonders for one addict but then fail miserably on another addict and vice versa. Because each individual affected by drug and alcohol addiction is a completely different person, some models will be more successful than others. When it comes to picking an intervention model to use on your family member or loved one, keep this in mind and be sure to pick the model that can be really agreed upon to do the most to help him or her.
The Love First Intervention Approach
For many situations and circumstances, the Love First intervention model will by far be considered to be the best choice when it comes to addiction intervention. This system and model applies well to a lot of different options and choices in the intervention category, and that fact will remain and continue indefinitely.
The Love First approach is a ver compassionate, caring, understanding, and relaxed and laid back form of intervention. To begin, it occurs on neutral territory, such as the family home or a shared office or other comfortable area of location. This method really strongly encourages family members to provide love and compassion to the addict and to continue with such sympathy throughout and after treatment too. It is quite the commitment on the part of the family members of the addict to really commit to treating the addict well and patiently and with compassion indefinitely.
In the beginning of the intervention, various family members will start off the intervention process by refuting excuses the addict makes, but they will do so in positive ways and methods. For example, if the addict insists that he or she can’t seek treatment because he or she has children to care for, then it is your job within the intervention her know that you have already arranged for alternative care for them with a trusted family member they enjoy being with.
One thing that will help a lot would be to point out that this is a temporary situation only too, but one that she wouldn’t want to make permanent by any means at all. It helps to sprinkle in factual evidence like the fact that The American Grandparents Association reports that 44 percent of the 4.9 million children who are being raised by their grandparents in this nation are because of parental substance abuse. Tell your loved one that you don’t want that to happen to him or her.
Also, you can mention what happens when kids are raised in an addiction-filled home. For example, various types and styles of drugs are prevalent on high school and college campuses now more so than ever partially as a result of students being raised by addicted parents. Each type of these drugs adversely affects some aspect of school performance to one degree or another. Marijuana abuse, for example, causes short-term memory loss and affects problem solving and logical thinking, all of which affects academic performance of the worse. It can also result in loss of motor coordination, which can lead to errors on the sports field which can result in the loss of a scholarship or an injury. Other drugs, such as anabolic androgenic steroids, may temporarily boost athletic performance, but they eventually cause a host of emotional and anger problems, as well as a variety of negative physical side effects to one degree or another.
The next thing to remember about the Love First method is this vital aspect that all participants of the Love First method stay calm during this period and understand that the premise is ultimately to attempt to avoid the tension, conflict, and defensiveness that arguing and hostile moods bring to the table to ultimately disrupt the intervention. Even when an addict erupts or loses his or her cool, in this intervention model in particular everyone else must remain calm.
Another thing to ensure happens with the Love First method is its trademark. The trademark of this intervention technique is that every participant writes a letter to the addict detailing how they feel, including memories that bond them, and ending with supportive reinforcements to them. This part of the process of the Love First method.
There is one more aspect of the Love First method that really clinches the deal though. In addition to the letter that each loved will read aloud to the addict during the main event, each participant will prepare a list of consequences for the addict should she choose not to get help in the end instead. These consequences include anything from a parent cutting off financial resources to a spouse filing for divorce and custody of the kids instead. The Love First approach allows for support and compassion that balance the more aggressive confrontational aspects of other intervention models that might not take part in as much love and compassion as Love First does.
What it Boils Down To
This the polar opposite of the confrontational methods to intervention, and this most often works for addicts in their twenties or thirties, especially for addicts who have families of their own. In this model, the family members meet with the addict and express love and compassion for him or her. They politely refute any objection the addict gives on going to treatment by working out a resolution to that problem. For example, many addicts will not go to treatment because they think they have to take care of their kids. It is no harm at all for two family members to step forward and to take care of the children for a few weeks or months.
Addiction can pounce upon an individual at any time, so its is of the utmost importance to be prepared for it and to have this intervention model ready and waiting for when it is necessary. For example, while most drug and alcohol use and abuse and addiction problems remain continuous throughout the year, some are actually highly exacerbated or even further triggered by changes in seasons or specific events that occur in a person’s life, necessitating rapid intervention on a very much so get-it-done-now type of way. Individuals suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, (SAD), for example, (this is just one of many issues that cause substance abuse), are at increased risk for developing a substance abuse disorder to one degree or another as a way of coping with the episodes of depression that occur with this condition. Research also indicates to us that alcoholics tend to drink with some seasonality, again as a way to cope with the depression that accompanies SAD. This sort of thing can jump up at any time and that’s why it is so important to be able to use this intervention model at a moment’s notice.
This model really impresses upon the addict the sheer gravity and importance of rapid, insisted, caring, living, but very much so needed and wanted change, and change right now too. With this model, you should be able to finally convinced your loved one to go to rehab.