Coping with a drug addiction is very difficult. Addiction does not simply affect the addict, despite what they might believe, it affects everyone in contact with the addict. Families, friends, neighbors and even whole communities can be affected by drug addiction. The most important thing that anyone can do for an addict is attempt to get them help for their addiction. Getting help for an addict can be difficult, but it is not impossible. There are number techniques to use to get an addict accept help. These tasks can be difficult, but with the help and support of friends, family and professionals it is feasible.
Interventions are one way to get an addict to accept the help and begin to recover from addiction. There are several different types of interventions that families and friends can use. Most people believe that interventions can only be conducted in the confrontational style that is shown on the reality television show by the same name. The truth is that most interventions do not end in physical or emotional violence. They can be run smoothly and calmly. The best way to start preparing for an intervention is to gain as much information on addiction as possible. Getting in contact with a treatment center or addiction specialist is another wonderful way to gain information. These individuals can guide the family in the process of healing. They can also provide a recommendation for an intervention specialist. These individuals are available to help family prepare for an intervention and can even be present to run it.
Success Rates of an Intervention
There are two very critical factors that can determine if an intervention was successful. The first is the easiest to see. If an addict accepts help and is willing and able to enter a drug rehabilitation program at the end of the intervention, then it was a success. The ultimate goal of any intervention is to get the addict to see the damage they are causing themselves and their loved ones and to get help. By entering a treatment center they accept that they have a problem and want to turn their lives around. This is the greatest success of interventions. Families should have a number of treatment options for the addict, so that by the end of the intervention they are willing to accept treatment they know the options and choose one. You do not want to have any down or free time between an addict accepting help and going for treatment.
The second factor that proves the effectiveness of an intervention is that the family and friends of the addict get some sort of relief or closure form the intervention. Addiction weighs heavily on those around the addict. It is incredibly difficult to watch a loved one slowly destroy their lives by using and abusing drugs or alcohol. When those people are able to talk about the issues regarding addiction they can feel better. Friends and family of addicts should continue to speak with each other to reduce the chances of the addiction ruining their lives. It is important that family and loved ones of addicts get the help they need.
At the end of an intervention, whether or not the addict accepts help, the family and friends must lay out a set of rules for the addict. It is important that the addict understands that no one is going to enable their addiction. There will be rules and consequences for certain behaviors. Tough love is a great tool to get an addict to finally accept the responsibilities for their actions and downfall. The addict is the only one who can complete rehabilitation; therefore they must accept responsibility for their actions. The harder life is for them the easier and quickly they might accept treatment.
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