Hope should not be four letter word.
The concept of formal, professional drug and alcohol intervention has been around for several decades in the United States.
We have come a long ways as a craft and profession since those early formative years. Much of the work starts with helping families understand what an intervention actually is- and, sometimes more importantly, what it’s NOT. Some all too common myths and misconceptions about intervention has developed and we want to dispel some of those.
The A&E docudrama “Intervention” was, in many way, helpful to get word out to families that professional drug and alcohol interventions exist. Yet one should realize that its a heavily produced television show, geared toward attracting as many viewers and lucrative sponsors as possible. The byproduct is that some families who have seen the show are turned off by the “drama”. Do not dismay. When we approach this process with a compassionate approach, there is very little actual “drama.”
Alcoholics and addicts must hit rock bottom before getting help. Intervention professionals can help people long before they hit the ultimate bottom. Interventions raise the “rock bottom.” It proves time and again that hitting rock bottom is not necessary for people to recover.
Alcoholics and addicts must ask for help on their own for treatment to work. For many alcoholics and addicts, maybe even a majority, their disease is such that they are incapable of asking for help. If they happen to find themselves in the minority, finding an appropriate treatment center becomes a daunting task itself—many get discouraged and give up.
It is not okay to confront people about their alcoholism or addiction. A well planned, compassionate intervention is not a confrontation. Instead, it is lovingly helping the alcoholic or addict become more aware of their own behavior and how their addiction prevents them from seeing and feeling.
Alcoholics and addicts have a good chance of quitting on their own. A sublimely motivated, committed addict can halt the spiral of addiction. But it is difficult – one of the most difficult things anyone could ever try to do – and it is rare. Very rare.
Unless alcoholics or addicts want treatment, the treatment will not be successful. One of the purposes of treatment is to help addicts overcome their resistance. And surprising things often happen in treatment. “Send the body,” goes the old saying, “and the mind will follow.”
Let’s dispel some of the false beliefs that make interventions so daunting and set the record straight.
The intervention process must be heavy-handed and confrontational. We believe that interventions should use a compassionate approach. This is your loved one. Therefore we treat them as such; gentle but firm, straightforward, and caring.
A person who has been the subject of intervention will resent those who participated in the intervention. That rarely happens. It seldom happens during an invitational, family-workshop model of intervention, when the focus is on the family and not the addict. In most cases, the addict or alcoholic has already built a decent sized resentment with family members. We find that approaching this with dignity, honor, and respect, much of the resentment is set aside and healing is allowed to occur.
Guilt and shame are effective motivators to recovery. Just the opposite – guilt and shame keep people stuck in their disease and are the most powerful impediments to recovery.
The intervention model is one-size-fits-all. There is no single type of intervention that is appropriate for every situation. The role of an experienced, objective interventionist is determining what style and techniques are best suited for each situation.
The only person who benefits from an intervention is the person with the addiction – actually, the whole family benefits. Family members, in fact, are often suffering more than the addicted person is. In many interventions, the family is the “patient.” The addicted person is just another family member.
Once the intervention is over, the interventionist’s job is finished. Intervention is a process, not an event. It is not completed when the initial intervention has been conducted. Long-time monitoring and follow-up are important to ensure that the family and the addicted person continue to heal. Please stay in contact with your interventionist and allow them to continue to coach and guide your process.
If the addict doesn’t go to treatment immediately, then the intervention was a failure. Not so, in fact, quite the opposite. Most addicts who participate in interventions do seek treatment. On occasion, it may take some time to get their affairs in order before they accept the gift of treatment. But when they do go to treatment, they go with a much better attitude.
If the people we want to invite to the intervention have not had recent contact with our addict, we should not invite them. Not accurate. This is a disease of disconnection. Their behavior pushes people away. It is good to look at prior relationships. See who may have a strong voice even though they haven’t been around in some time. More often than not, those voices matter more than you think. Remember, the addict has not had a recent conflict with them. Also, be sure to confirm with a professional interventionist before extending invitations.
We hope our take on some of the common myths and misconceptions about intervention has been helpful. We want to invite you to call us today and discuss your concerns, tell your story, and hear some expert solutions. We take great pride in helping you tackle those difficult concerns and together build some tangible and effective results.
list adapted from “Love First” by Jeff and Debra Jay, 2008