What Is an Intervention?
An intervention uses a group of close friends and family gathered together and is usually a surprise to the addict. Each member of the group outlines the ways in which he or she has been harmed by the addict's addiction, asking them to seek treatment, and then listing the consequences for not seeking treatment. For example, a wife might outline the ways her husband's addiction harms her children and marriage, then say that she will move out of the family home if he does not seek treatment.
Interventions are often emotionally charged, and family members endeavor to be specific about the worst consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. Rather than simply saying that the abuse is harmful, group must be specific about the suffering they've experienced in an attempt to help the addict see the profound effects of his behaviour.
If the addict agrees to seek treatment, they will typically go to treatment shortly after the intervention. Those who decline treatment can expect to experience the consequences outlined by their loved ones.
Do Interventions Work?
In general, an intervention is a last-ditch effort for an addict who has consistently refused treatment or fallen off the sobriety wagon. Consequently, most people who undergo interventions are already heavily entrenched in their addictions. But when addicts have strong social support and access to good treatment, they're more likely to get better - an intervention can mean the only chance of getting someone in addiction to the point of active treatment .
Risks of Interventions
Interventions don't pose health or psychological risks, and won't directly make the addiction worse. Sometimes the addict may refuse, in the short term, to go to treatment, which will require you to follow up with the consequences you've made. This can be really challenging for those family members and friends who have a history of enabling, sheltering, or giving money to the addict.
How to Make an Intervention More Effective
We will guide the process of your intervention, and help to defuse unhelpful hostility. Ultimately, you cannot force someone who doesn't want help to seek it. Advanced planning including picking the most appropriate time is crucial.
Don't schedule an intervention for a time that the addict is likely to be high or stressed.
help the addict see how the addiction has harmed people they love.
Be specific when describing the ways their addiction has affected you keeping your words short and to the point.
We will devise a specific treatment plan with you beforehand.
If the intervention is not immediately successful then it is important to follow through with your consequences. If you promise to stop giving the addict money and then give money a few days later, you're teaching them that your threats are not valid.
An intervention can be emotionally challenging but they are often the only thing that works to finally convince addicts to seek help. We hold interventions with a guarantee of entry into a specialist private hospital in Sydney for treatment.
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