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Planning an Intervention

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How To Plan an Intervention for Success

With 14.5 million people aged 12 and older in the United States dealing with alcohol use disorder (AUD), having a relative with alcohol dependence may be likely. People with AUD may be suffering the effects of addiction without knowing it. They may even be unknowingly hurting their loved ones in the process.

Concerned family members may consider planning an alcohol intervention to help their addicted loved one. Successful interventions for an alcoholic would mean that the person with AUD proceeds with necessary treatments to overcome their addiction and alcohol dependence. Here are some strategies to ensure a successful alcohol intervention to get a loved one the help they deserve.

Planning an Intervention

Gather Concerned Loved Ones

Successful alcohol interventions require careful planning and teamwork. A concerned family member or friend can reach out to other concerned loved ones to help with the intervention. When enough concerned people have expressed their desire to help their loved ones, seeking help from professional counselors is a good idea to organize the intervention.

Addiction professionals and mental health experts understand the different possibilities of alcohol addiction interventions. They can help concerned individuals prepare for the time when they face their addicted loved one.

Planning an Intervention

Assess the Situation

During the planning stage, family members and friends who have gathered can discuss the extent of the addiction. They can assess how serious their loved one’s addiction is by noting whether there have been significant changes in their behavior.

The intervention may call for different levels of treatment, depending on the condition’s severity. For instance, the addicted loved one may be hurting other people when they have never done so before.

Planning an Intervention

Prepare a Script

It may help to list the behaviors that an addicted individual has been expressing and how they affect others. Listing their behaviors may help the team understand how they feel about their loved one’s behaviors and that they want to see positive change.

Since interventions are planned events and do not occur at the spur of the moment, the event can potentially incite feelings of anger and resentment, regardless of intentions. Sometimes, the person undergoing intervention will feel a sense of betrayal.

Planning an Intervention

Set Ultimatums

Professional interventionists can help concerned loved ones navigate the potential ill feelings by preparing them for the potential intervention failure ahead of time. A failed intervention might be the addicted loved one refusing treatment.

In that case, they will continue with their concerning behavior. So, it would help to come to terms with setting an ultimatum if they refuse treatment.

For instance, if a loved one’s addiction has turned them physically abusive toward their spouse, the spouse should be at peace with removing themselves from the abusive situation, especially if there are children involved.

Conclusion

Successful alcohol interventions should end up with the addicted person taking steps to recovery. This involves careful planning and situation assessment. Concerned loved ones can gather and seek professional advice to help navigate the situation.

By organizing an intervention with an alcohol intervention specialist, or an alcohol interventionist, family members and friends can identify their options for treatment and get ready for the potential that the event fails.

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/intervention/art-20047451
https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol-addiction-intervention
https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/alcohol/how-to-stage-alcoholism-intervention