Drug Intervention
A drug intervention is a planned attempt to encourage someone to get professional help for drug addiction. This is often done with the help a drug intervention professional. The interventionist brings together friends and family members to confront the addict and talk about how their behavior is hurting their family, themselves, and their friends.
Often the addict will deny there is a problem with addiction. They will usually say they can quit, and may have promised this many times before, only to relapse and spiral out of control again. A drug intervention is intended to present the evidence to move the addict past their denial so they might accept treatment.
The level of confrontation will vary depending on the addict’s level of denial. Some addicts will hear the damage their behavior has done and accept the idea of treatment. Others will react with dismay or even anger, and refuse to move forward.
In some cases of drug intervention the family sets new rules: get treatment or else. For some addicts, this is the only way to push them to get help. For example, parents may let a young adult know they will no longer pay their bills when they get in trouble. A spouse will let the addict know they will no longer cover up his or her behavior. A child may tell a parent that they are embarrassed by their behavior and no longer feel comfortable letting their friends come into the home.
The professional drug interventionist guides the process to make sure it does not cross any boundaries that could do more harm than good. For families that have reached the end of their tolerance for a drug addict’s behavior, the professional drug intervention can be a powerful way of moving the addict toward treatment.
