Substance Use Intervention : How You Can Help a Loved One

August 6, 2019 admin Addiction

A substance use intervention is a tough subject. Nobody wants to see a loved one suffer, but how do you start the intervention process? And does substance use intervention really work?

The fact is that addiction tells lies. It prevents the sufferer from seeing how bad the situation really is. An intervention can help the person with substance use disorder (SUD) see just how bad things have become.

Often, an intervention is the only thing that can convince a person to get help for their disorder.

What It Is and Is Not

So, what exactly is an intervention? It’s an opportunity for friends, family, and other loved ones to help a person with SUD. During an intervention, friends and family gather together and encourage their loved one to get professional help.

An intervention should show the individual how their addiction has damaged their own health as well as the lives of those around them.

Interventions can become confrontational, and emotions can run high. However, an intervention is not a place for guilt, blame, and shame. In fact, an intervention should ultimately help the person with SUD feel supported.

The end goal of the intervention is for the person to agree to go to treatment for substance use.

How Does It Work?

You can start a substance use intervention by calling an intervention specialist, also known as an interventionist. You never want to try an intervention without professional help. The interventionist acts as a mediator, keeping things calm and rational.

Next, your interventionist will meet with you to help you plan the intervention. Working as a team, you’ll put together the details.

Before the intervention date, you’ll schedule your loved one’s rehab stay and their transportation to the facility. This is the most important part of the intervention.

Once your loved one makes the decision to go to treatment, they’ll need to leave right away. Otherwise, they may second-guess the decision.