Family members and loved ones are important to us; the last thing we want to see is them throwing away their health and their future for a destructive lifestyle. If you have noticed addictive patterns of behavior in your loved one, you can try to talk to them, but addiction is a powerful force, and you can expect them to be defensive and dismissive of the clear problems.
If someone has a substance abuse issue that is clear to everyone but them, it could be time for an intervention. Interventions involve multiple people – it is normally people close to the person or professionals – they are designed to get the individual’s attention and turn them towards the issues they face. It is not an easy situation, but it is an extremely important life-changing event.
Key Takeaways: Interventions
- Interventions are conducted by multiple family members and professional
- There are three main intervention strategies, including the popular Johnson Model
- Interventions are not easy, but they have many advantages and long-term benefits
What is an Intervention?
Someone suffering from substance use disorder or addiction may not realize the effect it is having on their family members and loved ones. These conditions affect millions of people every year, leading to family fallouts, disharmony, and health issues that affect the general life quality.
When someone with a substance use disorder impacts the wellbeing of other family members, harming their health in the process, it’s could be time for an intervention. An addiction intervention is an effort by multiple people to confront an individual about their substance use.
Intervention strategies can be separated into three primary models: the Arise Model, The johnson Model, and the Systemic Family Model. These models are the most effective approaches to intervention, but one model might be more suitable for certain situations.
When is an Intervention Needed?
An intervention is needed when a family member has a substance use issue that they deny, but that’s obvious to everyone else. Perhaps the addiction is affecting their work or relationships, but they insist they are in control. Maybe you’ve addressed the issue, but nothing has changed.
If a family member is engaging in increasingly risky behavior due to substance use, it could be time for an intervention. Perhaps they are getting behind the wheel while intoxicated or have unsafe promiscuous behaviors. Consider one of the addiction intervention models for support.
The Benefits of an Intervention
An intervention for substance misuse gives the family member space to consider their behavior and support if they are willing to change. An intervention also establishes clear boundaries for individuals; it communicates to them that if they don’t make efforts to change, they will face the consequences, which might include homelessness or a loss of financial or emotional support.
Planning an Intervention
No matter who the family member is or what addiction they have, it’s important to plan the intervention carefully. Creating a plan means you have options depending on how the individual reacts. If they are defensive, you have some leverage to lean on, and if they accept treatment, you need an action plan to get them some help immediately before they change their mind.
Prepare for Emotions
An intervention has a positive intention behind it; you want to help your loved one to beat their addiction and return to a healthy way of life. Often it’s challenging to live with someone addicted to a substance – it can be hurtful and painful to relate to people with substance abuse issues.
Chances are you have adapted to this life situation over the years, but it can be emotionally difficult for everyone involved. An intervention is no exception. Although there are difficult emotions involved, you need to think about the bigger picture and manage them throughout.
Prepare for Conflict
Addiction is a difficult demon to battle. Someone with a substance addiction is dedicated to their way of life even when it is destruction to their health and damaging to their relationships. An addicted individual will defend themselves and protect their way of life in the face of evidence.
An intervention is not easy; that’s why it involves more than one person. A community of people is required to communicate the extent of the problem and show the addicted person they have people who care about them. Still, the addicted person can be manipulative and argumentative.
Create a Strategy
There are three main strategies to choose from when it comes to addiction intervention: the Arise Model, the Johnson Model, and the Systemic Family Model. Each model has strengths and weaknesses depending on the individual, the addiction, and the family situation you have.
The Arise Model uses an outside interventionist; the family member is asked to collaborate with professional support. The most common strategy is the Johnson Model, where the family collective confronts the individual. The systemic model is similar but uses the entire family.
Create a Community
An intervention should not be carried out alone. When you confront the individual yourself, there is a high chance of manipulation and conflict. When you have a family community with you, there is more pressure on the individual to acknowledge the situation and consider the issues.
Family members and friends are excellent resources for interventions, but you can also benefit from some professionals. Depending on the strategy used, you might have some professionals to work with as well. Professional interventions can take place in the home or addiction center.
Work With Professionals
A professional interventionist helps you to work with your loved one and get the best results. A professional is not a disengaged doctor; rather, there are people who have had addiction issues themselves, so they can create a bridge between you and your loved one, helping them to talk.
Professional interventionists are objective, non-judgemental, and emotionally intelligent; they know how to talk to people in an addiction mode and help them to open up. At a time when you can expect your loved one to be highly defensive, having a professional on your side is useful.
Use a Treatment Centre
Treatment centers are indispensable when it comes to addiction issues. A treatment center can take your loved one out of their everyday world and put them in a supportive setting to start working with their addiction. Even after discharge, a treatment center is an important feature.
Addiction does not disappear following 30 days in an addiction center; it is more like a chronic illness that requires regular treatment and continual effort. Your loved one might undergo treatment as an outpatient; they might also return to the center periodically for their reviews.
The majority of interventions require a treatment center at some stage. When planning an intervention, you need to think ahead and consider the treatment options. Contact a treatment center ahead of time and book a place so that you can transport your loved one immediately.
Addiction interventions take different forms, but three of the most common strategies include the Arise Model, the johnson Model, and the Systemic Family Model. These models have different strengths and weaknesses but are the most effective for particular intervention situations. Consider which model suits your situation the best, and begin to plan your intervention strategy.
Intervention planning is very important. Chances are you have already had plenty of conflict with your loved one because of their addiction. You might have talked to them at opportune moments and found them to be defensive and uncooperative. With more family members around, it is harder for them to dismiss the addiction. Be prepared to transport them to a treatment center.
Leave a Reply