RSS FeedAn “intervention,” is a technique that lets loved ones collectively urge an addicted person to get help. Ideally led by a licensed therapist, the ultimate goal is to convince the addict to enter rehab immediately.
Strong defenses and a sense of denial are hallmarks of the substance abuser’s psychology. “Addicts don’t deny that they’re using,” says Bob Poznanovich, CEO of Addiction Intervention Resources, a Minnesota-based company that specializes in arranging interventions. “They deny that it’s hurting others.”
That’s why an intervention can be more effective than a one-on-one conversation: The addict is caught off guard and emotionally disarmed. Everyone he cares about explicitly spells out how they’ve been hurt. While expressing love and concern, the interveners also outline concrete repercussions should he refuse treatment.
“Pain and consequences are motivators for an addict,” says Poznanovich. “You’d think jail and homelessness would be, but they’re not, especially if the addict has been bailed out of bad situations again and again.” And because the logistical details of entering rehab are set, the addict can easily surrender and allow others to take care of him.
Preparation is the key to managing what can be an emotional confrontation for all involved. Writing letters to read aloud at the intervention can help them keep their focus and say what needs to be said. Running through it ahead of time can help make the actual meeting less intense. The time and place of the actual intervention should be chosen carefully, keeping in mind when the person will be most sober and where he or she will feel least defensive.
A modified approach would be that the final confrontation is done only by a therapist, armed with the letters from family and friends. People may be more candid in a neutral setting and without feeling coerced, they may arrive at rehab feeling less angry and more receptive to change.
Even if an intervention succeeds in getting the abuser into treatment, it is only the first step in what is destined to be a hard road to recovery. The majority of alcoholics and addicts who eventually recover suffer at least one relapse along the way, which is why it’s important to have a supportive after-care plan in place, like those offered at Transitions Recovery.
