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Intervention |
WHAT IS AN INTERVENTION?
A constructive intervention is a planned and rehearsed meeting of close family, friends and relatives of the addict, and a facilitator where they try and persuade the addict that they have a problem and that they should seek treatment. In an atmosphere of genuine love and caring, and in as non-threatening a way as possible, this group, one person at a time, presents the addict with as much objective information about how their drinking, drugging or gambling behavior is causing a problem, and how those closest to him/her feel about the problem.
It is not a time to be used to ‘beat up the addict’ and to have an opportunity to vent frustrations. In fact, if members of the family or group, feel they cannot remain calm, they should not be included.
It must be stressed that there is no guarantee of success, but interventions have proved successful in most cases, and it is a way of communicating with the addict that has the best chance of success.
It must be remembered that the addict is ‘sick’ and very often unable to save themselves. Their physical, metal and emotional health may be severely impacted by their addiction and they may appreciate the opportunity to be ‘rescued’.
Even if the intervention is unsuccessful, the addict’s family and friends will feel that they have tried.
BENEFITS FOR THE FAMILY
Intervention not only helps the addict, but helps those close to the addict to make their needs known. They have an opportunity to tell the addict how they feel about the situation and how they have been hurt by the disease. It also provides a forum for the family members to change their own lives, to take stock and learn to do things differently.
Intervention is as much for the family member as it is for the suffering addict. It provides on opportunity to have a different kind of communication with the loved one; an opportunity to communicate real feelings and concerns in a manner that has the best opportunity of being heard by the addict/alcoholic. There may or may not be a successful outcome, but family will feel they have at least tried, and it will provide the suffering addict/alcoholic with food for thought.
THE ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL
Ideally, the family should be trained or coached in the process involved in an intervention. There are some good books about this process, but it is very difficult to remain objective, to have all of the facts at your fingertips and facilitate the process at the same time.
The full text of this handout includes step-by-step planning instructions and is available on request.
References:
Love First. Dr Jeff Jay & Dr Debra Jay.(2000) Hazelden. ISBN 1-56838-521-8 (pbk.)
The Recovery Book. Al J. Mooney, MD, Arlene Eisenberg, Howard Eisenberg (1992) Workman Publishing, New York. ISBN 1-56305-084-6 (pbk.)
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