If you have someone in your life that is in danger of serious injury or death as a result of their addiction, then it is imperative to get them help. Waiting for them to hit ‘rock bottom’ is the worst thing family and friends can do. The ‘rock bottom’ theory is a myth; individuals who are suffering from an addiction do not have to hit ‘rock bottom’. Unfortunately, sometimes ‘rock bottom’ is death, which is exactly what friends and family are attempting to prevent. A very powerful technique to utilize in getting someone to accept addiction treatment is an intervention. A well-detailed and structured intervention can bring an addict to see and understand the gravity of their situation, as well as the pain and trauma they are causing the family. A proper intervention shows an addict that they have a problem, the damage their addiction is causing them, the stress and chaos they are bring to those around them, and to accept drug or alcohol treatment. The following are steps/tips to take when preparing to conduct an intervention.
The Team
Before conducting the actual intervention, it is important to set a line up. All of the individuals who have a hand in that addict’s life should have a chance to participate in the intervention. Those individuals should be mature enough to handle the situation. They should also be able to control their emotions and actions. These people can be friends, family, or co-workers. Anyone that is suspected to be doing drugs with that addict should be excluded. Every individual that participates in the intervention should be able to look the addict in the eye and tell the truth; those that are unable to handle it should not be involved. Everyone in the intervention has to be on the same page and in agreement with the process.
Be Educated
The best thing that individuals can do before conducting an intervention is to be well read on drugs, alcohol, and addiction. New studies, research, and publications are being produced daily. The best, brightest, and most innovated ideas and theories are being published on drugs, alcohol, and addiction. The worst thing that an intervention can have is a group of people that do not know what they are talking about. Those in the intervention should understand how drugs and alcohol take over someone’s life, how addiction affects that person. Everyone involved should also know their part in the period following the intervention as the individual is recovering.
Love and Care
All of those people that interact with the addict should show them that they are there to help them. It is important to show addicts that how much you care about them. Addicts must understand that they are not alone in their struggle against addiction. Recent studies have shown that addicts respond better to love and care. By aggressively approaching an addict, it is more likely that family and friends push them further away into their addictions.
Set Boundaries and Keep to Them
All the family and friends that are part of the intervention must be on the same page, as previously stated. They must be willing to set boundaries and keep up with those boundaries. Addicts are master manipulators. Therefore, everyone in contact with the addict must not give in to their dishonesty and manipulation. During the intervention, all those involved should let the addict know that they are not going to be able to continue to carry on their addictive behaviors and receive the same treatment. Those boundaries they set must be kept; if they are not, then the addict will continue to push the limits.
Rehab
At the culmination of the intervention, the family and friends should be able and willing to taking the addict to a rehabilitation center. For this reason, those involved in the intervention must be educated on addiction and proper treatment center. The goal of an intervention is to bring an addict to a treatment center at the end of the intervention. By using these steps/tips, friends and families can successfully conduct a proper addiction intervention.
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