Family Intervention

How to Do Family Intervention

In simple terms, an Intervention is a way to get a family member into rehab when they refuse to get help.

It is common for a family member with a drug or alcohol abuse problem to refuse help. They may promise to stop or get help, but they never do. In their defense, “denial” is a part of the disease.

Interventions are designed to get the reluctant family member to go to rehab. They are rarely ever without conflict, but they are a necessary measure to do what’s best for everyone involved when all else has failed.

How An Intervention Works

An intervention begins when a group of family members and friends meet with a person struggling with a drug or alcohol problem. They share their love for them and are concerned about their alcohol and substance abuse or addiction.

Interventions break through the “barriers of denial” by explaining to the troubled person how their behavior hurts them and those around them.

Each friend and family member take turns expressing how the person’s addiction has affected them. They often perceive the intervention as a confrontation, so the intervention must be done in a very caring manner.

The goal of an intervention is to get the person to agree to get help immediately.

It can be difficult, but it can be done. The most frequent barriers to a person getting help with a drug or alcohol problem are usually denial or a refusal to get help. Both tend to occur when someone is either ignoring or minimizing the severity of their drug or alcohol use.

Interventions Are Successful – If Done Right

Interventions should be pursued with the advice and counsel of a professional experienced with the intervention process. An intervention is a delicate matter, and it is vitally important to be done properly.

If a friend, co-worker, loved one, or family member is refusing to get help, please contact another qualified intervention specialist or us before it’s too late.

Inspire Malibu is committed to each patient’s confidentiality, and is our legal responsibility as mandated by state and federal law. Each staff member is dedicated to upholding these standards in all communications and records.

Helping a Family Member with a Drug Alcohol Problem

Family and friends can be a lifeline and valuable sources of support during good times and bad. When a family member or friend is abusing alcohol or drugs, it has a significant negative effect on everyone around them. Consequently, those closest to them are sometimes torn about when to raise the subject of seeking professional treatment.

Alcohol and drug abuse are clinical conditions that can be treated through a comprehensive program of specialized care. Unfortunately for some, this knowledge does not make the decision to speak up about seeking treatment any easier.

Approaches will always differ from person to person and from situation to situation. The road to recovery can often be long and difficult. But knowing when to speak to a family member or loved one about treatment for substance abuse may be the first step in the journey.

Listed below are common situations that might lead a friend or family member to speak to another about treatment for alcohol or drug abuse

Drug or alcohol use has become a permanent “crutch” in a person’s life

Many who have suffered from difficulties with alcohol or drug dependence began using alcohol or other substances as a crutch during personal or professional hardship. Many who have problems with self-confidence, depression, job or family-related stress, and loneliness are also vulnerable to substance-related addictions. They turn to alcohol or drugs to deal with stress. In these situations, it may be time to speak to the family member or friend about seeking treatment for drugs or alcohol.

Drug or alcohol abuse leads to increasingly-dangerous situations

Drinking and driving are dangerous for individuals and may cause serious injuries (if not fatalities) to those around them. If a friend or family member’s patterns of drug or alcohol abuse lead to dangerous situations, the time is right to speak to them about seeking treatment.

Drug or alcohol abuse leads to arrest and/or legal troubles

In all states nationwide, alcohol or drug abuse usually compounds legal problems. This is a concern that can lead to stiff penalties, fines, and jail time for the offender. If drug or alcohol problems lead to legal complications, it’s time to speak up about the problem and open a discussion about treatment.

Drug or alcohol abuse leads to problems and difficulties in personal relationships

We don’t want to hurt the ones we love. Physical or verbal abuse at home or work is an unfortunate reality in many drug and alcohol cases. When alcohol or drug abuse creates trying times for parents, children, friends, co-workers, spouses, or other family members, it’s a good time to speak about treatment.

The decision to speak to a friend or family member about alcohol or drug abuse and treatment is a highly personal one. Ultimately, the decision to engage a substance abuser about treatment and treatment options seeks to help relieve many of the root causes of alcohol and drug abuse and allow the family member or loved one to heal.

Here’s an interesting story about a family going through the recovery process.

For More Information Call Us at 1-800-444-1838.