Drug Intervention 101: Everything You Need to Know
Drug intervention refers to the process of convincing someone with a substance abuse problem to enter rehabilitation. It can be challenging to reach out to a family member or friend that you suspect may have a problem and you might worry about risking your relationship with them by mentioning anything. There’s a proper process of intervention to follow to increase chances of successfully setting out on a path to recovery.
It’s important to understand how you plan to approach an addict. You’ll have to take into consideration what substances they are on and how they are likely to react. Alcohol and prescription drugs – such as benzodiazepines and painkillers – are among the most abused in this country. Other substances that are also very dangerous include crack/cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
Intervention is not easy, but it gives a ray of hope to those who have fallen victim to drug addiction and cannot take action on their own behalf. The first step of the process is to gather a circle of family members and friends and consult the advice of a health professional. Working together as a group, you will address the problem head on and map out solutions for the addict’s recovery.
Know that depending on the addict’s particular condition, there is always a risk of conflict, which is why it’s important to make sure you are in a safe, controlled environment and everyone involved knows their part.
This blog post provides you with information about what intervention looks like and how you can execute it if you start planning from today onwards.
Who Can Be an Interventionist?
Anyone with a concern for another individual’s well-being can be an interventionist. Usually, interventions are carried out in small groups made up of people that the addict knows, trusts, and feels comfortable around. Additionally, depending on the goal of the intervention, it is also usually either directly or indirectly supervised by a health professional, addiction treatment specialist, therapist, etc.
Although deciding to stage an intervention for a friend or loved one is a difficult decision. The process is a challenging and emotional experience. However, it offers a chance to help an addict seek treatment and recovery before things worsen.
When Is Intervention Necessary?
You and/or an addiction treatment specialist is intervening on the behalf of an individual who is unwilling or incapable to seek help on their own. Interventions are not necessary for all addicts, such as those who have already taken it upon themselves to participate in group meetings and a 12-step program. However, there are situations in which an addict either refuses to admit they have a problem, are too addicted to even have a desire to quit, or are too afraid to take action themselves.
If you are unsure, it’s always best to consult a addiction treatment specialist, or licensed therapist or social worker. There is no one size-fits-all intervention plan. Every case is different, which is why having a treatment specialist or consulting an addiction center can help you decide how best to approach your situation.
Intervention Goals
The primary goal of an intervention is to get an addict into drug treatment and rehabilitation as soon as possible.
Drugs are potent substances that can prove life-threatening if abused. Aside from the physical medical and health problems it creates, drug addiction:
- Affects daily life and ability to function at full physical and mental capacity
- Influences or diminishes decision-making
- Impacts short and long term memory
- Negatively affects relationships with friends, families, coworkers, etc.
- Can cause problems in the workplace
- Results in risky behaviors that could have fatal results, i.e. impaired driving
- Could increase pre-existing problems such as depression or anger-issues
Addicted individuals think of drugs for the whole day long. As a result, if their addiction has become out of their control, they may become upset at themselves, which often just results in giving up or using even more drugs as a coping mechanism. So, slowly and gradually, addicted individuals lose their interest in things they are fond of and also in their lives.
How Does Drug Intervention Work?
It is the beginning of a recovery process for an addict who has not admitted their problem. It is performed by family members, friends, or medical caretakers of the individual suffering from drug/substance abuse. It follows certain steps and procedures carefully planned on an individual basis to jump-start an addict’s transition into recovery.
Sometimes, an intervention can even go as far as having an individual involuntarily committed if their actions are an immediate danger to them or others. A couple examples of these would be if they were to have been arrested for something like child endangerment or driving under the influence.
The person must admit they have a problem they are no longer in control of and agree to undergo treatment. For some people, this is through therapy and groups, while others need a stricter, long-term treatment plan often involving detox and medication.
Whether an individual is entering recovery of their own volition, having admitted and identified their addiction, or if they have been persuaded through the help of an intervention, there are many treatments and therapies available for every situation.
Some of the available treatment plans at an Ohio Detox Center are:
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Motivational therapy
- Psychotherapy
These include teaching the addict coping skills to deal with triggers and cravings. Drug interventions are beneficial for both the addict and their families. It helps to repair relationships and improve the lives of everyone involved.
What Do Drug Intervening Professionals Do?
Drug and alcohol intervening professionals work with people having addiction problems. These provide education, assessments, and guidance for those struggling to break the cycle of addiction.
Intervention specialists help families to find a path out of despair and offer support as they live this difficult time of their lives. These use different approaches like motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management programs, etc. Of course, you can always seek the help of professionals who specialize in Drug Intervention in Philadelphia to seek independence from substance abuse.
The goal is to promote abstinence from drugs and alcohol. It helps individuals to live independently of substances damaging themselves and others around them. We at Addiction Treatment Group have professionals who provide education, assessments, and guidance for those struggling to break the cycle of addiction.
