Should I Use A Professional Interventionist For My Loved One's Drug Intervention?

The only way an intervention would be successful is if the addict accepted the fact that they have a problem with drugs and/or alcohol and agreed to choose one of the drug rehab options that their loved one have provided.

If you have a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder, their problems may have been affecting you too - as well as their entire network of family and friends. This is why there are many intervention models in place to provide you with a process that is structured and oriented on solutions.

Through this process, you can organize a meeting that becomes successful in convincing the addict to check into an addiction treatment program. You - along with other loved ones of the addict - would use the meeting to inform the addict of the harmful effects of their substance abuse on everyone presence.

However, there are some things that you can do to ensure that the process is successful. One of these would be to get a professional interventionist to help you with the meeting - including the planning, execution, and the follow up stages.

Understanding Addiction Interventions

Some addicts recognize the fact that their substance abuse has been causing various problems. As such, they may be able to go to an addiction treatment and rehabilitation program without needing an intervention.

However, many more are unable or reluctant to realize the effects of their substance abuse and addiction - particularly on the people who are dearest and nearest to them. They may even have been blaming other people, events, and situations on the issues that they have been experiencing at work, in relationships, and with their health and wellness.

These addicts would be said to be in denial. This is because they would have been denying the fact that most of the problems in their lives are as a result of drugs or alcohol or both.

The goal of an addiction intervention, to this end, would be to get such individuals to realize the truth. This is because the nature of substance abuse is such that they may not be able to come to this realization unless other people form a group to talk to them about the issue.

The goal of an intervention, to this end, would be to inform the addict that their substance abuse has been getting out of hand and that the time has come for them to check into an addiction treatment center.

At the same time, the process would allow the family and friends of the addict to get back control over their lives - particularly those aspects of their day to day living that have been adversely affected or hijacked by the addiction.

The Work of Addiction Interventionists

Although many addiction intervention professionals - also known as interventionists - are focus their process on getting an alcohol or addict into a rehab program, some of them can also help the intervention group prepare for the actual meeting, stage this meeting, and understand the things that they need to do and avoid after the addict has left the rehabilitation program.

The goal of these professionals, to this end, would be to direct the substance user to a place where they want help and realize that they need it urgently. They would also get the addict to accept accountability for their drug taking by changing the dynamics in their relationships.

To this end, interventionists will not just be working to inspire the addict towards change. Rather, they will also be trying to get the family and loved ones to take charge of the direction of their lives.

It is important to realize that addicts will never try to fix the issues that they are dealing with unless they have compelling reasons to do so. With an interventionist, you will be able to get these reasons on the terms of the people gathered for the intervention meeting - and not on the terms that the addict tries to set.

These professionals, on the other hand, will bring the different personalities together - including all the diverse opinions that people have - before focusing them on the one goal of getting the addict into a drug rehab program.

Why Use Professional Interventionists

Most addiction interventions are complex. They go over and beyond a simple conversation that loved ones may have. When you get an interventionist to help, you will be able to benefit from the various goals that they have.

To this end, you can expect your intervention to help with:

a) Advice

For starters, these professionals can advise you on the various addiction treatment options that exist, with a special focus on those that would be most suitable for the needs and preferences of the addicted loved one. They would also be able to do this while considering the insurance coverage and budget that the family is working with.

b) Education and Counseling

Further, interventionists are trained to provide counseling and education to families. This would be an important service both before and after the actual intervention meeting - as well as during it.

c) Logistics

You can also count on professional interventionists to make all the logistical arrangements that have to be in place - particularly with the addiction treatment center that the family ends up choosing for the loved one who is struggling with a substance use disorder and/or a co-occurring mental health or medical disorder.

d) Insurance

Some interventionists also double up as addiction treatment professionals, and those that do not have at least some experience or links with drug rehab programs. As such, they can review the insurance policy that the family has as well as help in choosing the recovery centers that will be able to accept this form of insurance.

e) The Meeting

Finally, the interventionist can help in planning, organizing, hosting, setting up, as well as following up with the actual intervention meeting. This means that you can count on them for advice on the people to include at the meeting, where to host the meeting, and when to hold it. They could also provide advice on the roles that different people are going to play.

The Role of Intervention Specialists

However, the primary roles that interventionists play can be divided into three main parts: before, during, and after the actual intervention meeting. Read on to find out more:

1. Before the Intervention

When you are working with an intervention counselor, they will prepare the entire family and everyone else who will be attending the meeting. These professionals will put the needs of the entire group first - over and beyond those of the struggling addict.

Before the meeting, they will work with you to repair all unhealthy dynamics created by the addiction. This is essential because you would all have to change your enabling behaviors and set up healthy boundaries against the addict.

Further, they will review all the different rehabilitation options, as well as the financing that is available to the family. They can also coordinate with addiction treatment centers before advising the family on the ones that might be suitable.

2. During the Intervention

When you have a professional interventionist, you can also ask them to run the actual meeting. This will take pressure off the entire family while also allowing every individual to focus on the role that they have to play in the entire process of getting the addict to check into an addiction treatment center.

These specialists can also remove or at least minimize any fears that you may have simply by being present at the actual intervention meeting. Their presence could also ensure that the addict does not misbehave in any way.

3. After the Intervention

After the meeting has proved successful, you will still have some work to do so that you can reestablish a lifestyle that is free from the various negative influences of substance abuse and addiction.

During this time, you can count on the interventionist to educate and guide the entire family through this process. They will also provide instructions on what you need to do at the end of the addiction treatment process, as well as the steps you would ideally take in case the addict comes back home before having completed their drug rehabilitation process.

The Effectiveness of Professional Interventions

Research studies have shown that there are many situations in which it would be better to have a professional doing their work than attempting to do it on your own. Substance abuse and addiction are serious conditions that fall in this group.

If you attempt to host an intervention on your own, there is a high risk that it could fail. When it fails, there is an even higher risk that it might end up turning into a catastrophic mistake. For instance, the addict might end up taking a higher dose of the drugs that they abuse - to such an extent that they suffer an overdose that could potentially turn out to be fatal.

To avoid all these negative outcomes, it is recommended that you use professional help in the form of a specialist interventionist. These experts have the training, experience, and knowledge that you are going to need to ensure that your intervention meeting is a resounding success.