Drug and alcohol addiction is a significant health concern that has become dominant among adults. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 29 million Americans above 12 suffered from alcohol addiction in 2020. About 5 million had drug abuse problems. Yet, a considerable percentage of these individuals deny having any addiction. As a result, they turn down every chance to get medical help. It is normal, given opioids and alcohol are highly addictive and give a false impression about our mental and physical health.
If your loved one refuses to heed your advice of seeking treatment after numerous one-on-one discussions, there are ways you can convince them to go to rehab. One effective way is organizing a drug intervention. Typically, people with addiction issues find it tough to admit their condition. An intervention will convince them that there’s no way out asides through treatment. However, organizing a successful intervention is complicated, especially if you haven’t done it before. This article explains how to launch an intervention successfully.
DetoxLA is a Los Angeles drug and alcohol rehab center that offers comprehensive medical detox treatment.
What is an Intervention?
Drug or alcohol intervention is a carefully thought-out process of constituting a group of people on behalf of the person with substance abuse. The intervention usually consists of family, friends, and drug interventionists. An intervention helps the individual to realize they have a problem and explains the adverse effects of avoiding treatment. The interventionist buttresses the essence of going to rehab.
An intervention explains the impacts of the person’s addiction on their families and those around them, including how it affects their behaviors. Additionally, it clarifies the destructive psychological and physical effects on the person’s lifestyle and helps construct a pre-treatment program with guidelines. Furthermore, it provides insight into how treatment can help them achieve lasting sobriety. Lastly, it warns about the dangers of jumping treatment.
An intervention is necessary and crucial to the betterment of the individual but could be a colossal failure if unplanned. Random group meetings can defeat the aim of intervention and further push the individual with addiction away from seeking treatment. They will have stronger reasons for not wanting treatment. Therefore, an intervention must be carefully organized. More importantly, everyone involved must be in concurrence and avoid making unguarded remarks.
Tips for a Successful Intervention
Organizing a successful intervention must follow a carefully thought-out process. Many things are involved in the process, but the following tips can help you avoid failures;
Devise a Plan
Organizing something as delicate as an intervention without a plan in advance is impossible. What’s the purpose of the intervention? What will you say, and how will you act when things go sideways? That’s not all! How many people will you invite to the intervention? In planning, remember to determine the date and location of the intervention. The venue must be serene and a familiar spot that the individuals identify comfortably. Communicate with those you want to invite and confirm if the chosen date works for everyone. Otherwise, postpone the meeting to a more comfortable date.
Research
It is essential to research everything about addiction, including the symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatment options. This gives you the heads up and prepares you for any questions they may have.
Avoid Inviting Random People
The caliber of people you invite also matters. Avoid inviting random people or those the individual dislikes to the meeting. Invite people the individual has a close relationship with. This will establish trust and transparency.
Practice What to Say
It’s not just about making up a speech and waiting till D-day before you say them. You could easily forget everything and end up making hurtful comments. If you have your words ready, practice them frequently. Daily practice helps you to reshape your words and ensure your message is clear. Practicing with a drug intervention specialist will help you to become an expert in your words.
Be Ready
You shouldn’t expect everything to go smoothly just because you and your fellow interventionists gave a perfect speech. There will be some resistance and confrontation. The individual will not readily accept help because you’re there, but that isn’t the problem. The issue is your reaction. If you become confrontational, you’ll dissuade the individual with addiction from getting medical help, thereby defeating the objectives. Remain calm throughout and listen to what they have to say.
Provide the Necessary Information
Continue to reinforce the essence of seeking rehab treatment calmly. Provide all the required information and resources about substance abuse, including treatment options and available rehab centers near the person.
Ensure a Follow-Up
You mustn’t abandon the person just because they have accepted treatment. This is where you show support even more. Follow up to see how they fare. Interview them to find out if the treatment is working and if they are comfortable. Recovery is tedious, and being there for them will make a massive difference in the recovery rate.
DetoxLA Can Help You Organize an Intervention
Our drug addiction specialists at DetoxLA can help you organize an intervention successfully if you need help. In addition to that, we run various drug intervention programs to quicken the individual’s recovery. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, DetoxLA may be able to help. Contact our Los Angeles inpatient drug rehab today at 818.671.4765 to begin.