September is National Recovery Month.

Intervention: First Step Toward Recovery.

Families often struggle to get a loved one into treatment for an alcohol or drug addiction.  It is not easy to start a conversation about addiction, and many times the person struggling with addiction responds with excuses, anger, denial or minimization.  A conversation can easily escalate to an argument where nothing is accomplished.

A well-planned intervention can sometimes help the person with addiction realize that they can no longer pretend the problem isn’t real.  A well-planned intervention will have participants that the individual cares about and respects.  The participants will spend time mapping out what will be said, what expectations are, and what the consequences will be if the person refuses to get treatment.

It is generally recommended that four to six participants are selected for the intervention.  These people should be able to speak calmly and always begin by affirming their respect and care for the individual.  Specific examples should be given of times when the addiction has caused problems for the individual.  Set reasonable boundaries and only discuss the consequences that you are able and willing to enforce.

Have a plan of treatment for the person.  Select an appropriate drug and alcohol treatment program or facility.  Calculate the cost of addiction and the risk of health costs and even death.  Be prepared to calmly address all the reasons the person will have for not getting treatment:  I can’t afford it; I can’t be away from work that long; I don’t have anyone to take care of the kids; I can’t until after the vacation we have planned, the holidays or I’ve closed this deal at work.  Be firm that treatment must be the top priority, and don’t allow them to postpone taking action.  According to the Mayo Clinic,  “Don’t give your loved one time to think about whether to accept the treatment offer, even if he or she asks for a few days to think it over. Doing so allows your loved one to continue denying their problem, go into hiding or go on a dangerous binge. Be prepared to get your loved one into an evaluation to start treatment immediately if he or she agrees to the plan.”

For the best chances for effective intervention, plan, plan, and plan.

The following are some planning suggestions:

• One person should act as the point of contact to communicate information with all other participants of the intervention.
• Make sure all intervention participants have the same information.
• Be sure that all intervention participants are united on expectations.
• Research your loved one’s substance of choice to better understand what they are experiencing.
• Schedule a time when your loved one is least likely to be under the influence of their substance and that all intervention participants can be present.
• Be prepared for your loved one to be hurt, angry, feel betrayed or attacked and have objections.
• Remain calm and avoid confrontation.
• Treat your loved one with respect, dignity, and concern.
• Keep the intervention focused, don’t get off track.

Have the plan for treatment ready to implement immediately.

Including a professional as part of the intervention group can strengthen the intervention and keep the intervention running smoothly.  This person could be a counselor, a substance abuse treatment specialist, or a trained interventionist.  The facility you have chosen to serve your loved one should be able to offer expertise and guidance on finding the professional to include in your plan.

Selecting the right people for the intervention is very important.  Do not include anyone who cannot remain calm, or who the participant doesn’t like, or who might sabotage the intervention in some way.

Not all interventions are successful.

But when an intervention is successful, it can be the first step in helping your loved one start the road to recovery.

If you love someone who has drug or alcohol addiction and you think an intervention might be useful, contact Gulf Breeze Recovery.  Their professional staff is available to help guide you as you plan the intervention.  They will continue to be there every step of the way, offering compassionate holistic treatment and support, helping your loved one with a drug or alcohol addiction reclaim their life and their freedom.

When our guests begin to see themselves as we see them, and they experience for themselves their own innate health, and inner resilience, drugs cease to make sense anymore.

Once drugs no longer make sense to an individual they can stop the unsustainable “Not-Doingness” of traditional treatment programs. This is a kind of recovery that is portable and sustainable. Gulf Breeze Recovery is a drug and alcohol treatment center in Florida that is changing the future of addiction treatment. 

Contains excerpts from Beyond Addiction Podcast Series Ep-8

When you decide that Gulf Breeze Recovery is the right choice for you, contact us at Gulf Breeze Recovery or call: 833.551.2356 to speak to an addiction expert to learn more about our program that has helped so many people overcome their addiction and embrace life.

We help people not just to survive, but to THRIVE!