There are several steps necessary to stage an effective drug or alcohol intervention of a loved one. It’s best to start with the end in mind – recovery – and work backward from there.
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Get Professional Advice
Interventions can go sideways if you just “wing it” so it’s best to seek professional advice from the start. An organization like Denver Alcohol and Drug Rehab can help you with talking points and timing of an intervention. Professional sobriety counselors offer support not just to the addict but to the family as well. Seek out a support organization you feel comfortable with before you begin the intervention.
Organize a Team
Everyone who is part of the intervention should be willing to be part of the recovery process, so make sure the assembled team is in it for the long haul. Not only will the team members need to write impact statements, but they should also be willing to lend a helping hand in the recovery process. Running errands, making meals, offering rides and babysitting are all useful ways to help. Reading books about addiction can be very enlightening as you help loved ones through the recovery process.
Write Impact Statements
Thoughtful statements by friends and family members about how their loved one has caused harm to others is key. They should be carefully worded to reflect honesty and pain without attacking the addict personally. The focus of these letters should be on how the addict’s actions have affected them. The letters should begin and end with loving statements.
Rehearse the Process
Getting everyone on the same page is important, so it’s best to hold a rehearsal. Even though it may seem awkward, this is an important part of the process for everyone involved especially those who have never participated in an intervention before. Tensions will be high the day of the actual event, so knowing where to sit and what order to speak will make the real occasion go smoother.
Plan for the Worst
The goal is to get your loved one help, but if he or she does not respond positively to your intervention, don’t be surprised. Instead, have a plan in place to matter-of-factly state the consequences if behaviors and actions don’t change. Make sure everyone involved agrees to follow through.
Hope for the Best
If the intervention does work and the addict agrees to get help, make sure you plan for that too. Have a reservation at a treatment center or an appointment with an addict counselor available immediately.
Addiction recovery is a long process, but it’s not a hopeless one. A well-organized intervention could be the key to getting your loved one started down that road of healing.