Intervention

When the idea of drug interventions first became mainstream back in the early and mid-1980s, it was a concept that was not taken too seriously. Drug addiction experts still believed that the addict had to reach a point of self-motivation by coming to the end of their rope before any type of treatment would be successful. However, several decades of successful interventions has changed that thinking.

Drug intervention exists to provide a compassionate, loving, and supportive way to challenge drug addicts to seek help before they reach rock bottom. In cases where an intervention can succeed, the addict can start getting the help they need much sooner. And we all know that the sooner the addict gets help, the better off everyone involved is.

How Intervention Works

Though an intervention can be conducted by a professional, more often than not it is done by family members and friends. The intervention itself consists of the addict sitting down with the intervention group to address the reality of the drug addiction and how it is destroying lives.

By talking things over in stark reality, and in a way that shows care, concern and support, the addict can be led to realise he or she is truly addicted and is destroying lives. With that realisation, the addict can be encouraged to seek the help they need.

Professionals offer the following tips for conducting an intervention:

  • family and friends should not continue enabling the addict
  • consequences need to be established for the addict refusing help
  • intervention groups must be brutally honest about the damage being done by the addict
  • advice and recommendations from professionals should be sought before conducting intervention.

Strength in Numbers

Before conducting an intervention, it must be understood that the drug addict is not thinking clearly. He or she is rationalising their drug use and will, in all likelihood, resist the intervention in its early stages. This suggests that an intervention should not be conducted one-on-one. Enlist family members and friends to help.

The more people present, the greater the chances of success. Each one of the participants can explain to the addict how his or her behaviour is personally affecting them. Each one also has the opportunity to express their care and concern that the individual find help.

The strength in numbers philosophy has several benefits. First, it benefits the intervention group by giving each member others they can lean on for support and encouragement. It also increases confidence among those who would be uncomfortable doing an intervention on their own.

Strength in numbers benefits the addict by clearly showing him or her that the addictive behaviour is destroying multiple lives. In other words, it makes the picture a bit clearer and mitigates the chances the addict will consider the intervention a vendetta by an individual friend or loved one.

One of the services offered by Middlegate is to advise family members and friends about interventions. If need be, we can hook you up with professionals who can sit with you and explain exactly how to go about it. Or perhaps you need a professional to help you by attending the intervention as well.

Regardless of how you want to go about an intervention, Middlegate services can get you in touch with the right people. If someone in your family is suffering from drug addiction, please do not hesitate to contact us right away.