What is an interventionist?

If you're seeking treatment for a drug or alcohol disorder (for yourself or a loved one), you're not alone.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (statistics for the year 2017):

• 19.7 million adults (aged 12 and up) battled a substance use disorder.
• Almost 74% of adults suffering from a substance use disorder struggled with an alcohol use disorder.
• About 38% of adults battled an illicit drug use disorder.
• One out of every 8 adults battled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously.
• 8.5 million American adults suffer from both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2017), drug abuse and addiction cost the American society more than $740 billion in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime-related costs.

Not long ago it was commonly thought that the best way to deal with a person with a drug or alcohol abuse problem was to wait until they hit "rock bottom." The thinking was that when an addict's life was impacted adversely enough, they would seek help on their own.

This thought process has evolved. The medical community now states that drug addiction is a disease--not a moral failure, or a series of bad life choices. Because of this, there's now a greater emphasis on helping those afflicted with the disease of addiction, rather than punishing them.

With this new outlook on addiction, how do you help an addict get treatment? That's where an intervention comes in.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, the definition of intervention is as follows: "an action taken to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it, or prevent it from getting worse."

In the context of drug and alcohol addiction, an intervention is the process by which family, friends, counselors, or professional intervention specialists show a person who struggles with addiction the negative impact the disease is having on their life and on the lives of those who care for them.

An intervention:

• Has as its goal to help a person who struggles with addiction to enter a rehabilitation program (usually on an inpatient basis).
• Has an additional goal to help the family regain control of their lives, which have been disrupted by their loved one's addiction.
• Is NOT a "gang up" session where family and friends who've been hurt by the addict air their frustrations and anger.
• IS a helping session that, hopefully, enables the afflicted person to see how their addiction is harming their life and the lives of their loved ones.
• Can serve as a final warning that family members and friends will no longer support the destructive addiction.
• Should involve a large amount of forethought and careful planning (e.g. the structure of the intervention, what each person plans to say, and the next steps to follow).
• Needs to be SAFE for everyone involved.

At this point, you may be asking yourself this question: But do I need to do an intervention?

If simply talking to your loved one about your concerns for them doesn't seem to work (they may even deny they have a problem), a group intervention can be an effective next step. An intervention will help you show the addicted person just how much their actions negatively impact family and friends, as well as themselves.

What are the signs to look for when deciding whether or not to intervene?

There are many outward signs that someone is struggling with addiction. Your loved one may experience one or more of these manifestations of drug or alcohol abuse:

• Experiencing intense drug/alcohol cravings
• Needing more of a drug to get the same effects of earlier use
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when drug/alcohol use is stopped or reduced
• Secretive behavior
• Spending money on drugs/alcohol, even when it's not in the budget
• Borrowing money
• Aggressive behavior
• Acting out of character, like stealing, driving under the influence, or being reckless
• Deterioration of physical appearance
• Lack of energy or motivation
• Not being able to honor work, family, and personal obligations
• Health issues (many people with addiction suffer from other problems, like depression and eating disorders)

A substance abuser who is in denial is the most typical candidate for an intervention. It is thought that as many as 95% of addicts don't even recognize they have a problem. However, some aren't in denial at all, but are fearful of treatment because they're aware they'll have to go through withdrawal.

Many substance abusers struggle with co-occurring addiction and mental illness. This, of course, brings added conflict. Dealing with mental health issues can be complicated. For example, if the addict suffers from something like bipolar or borderline personality disorder, they may agree to treatment on one day but not the next. This can be typical behavior for all addicts, but is more prominent in those who are mentally ill.

It's wise to use the services of a trained professional to guide the process of a drug and alcohol intervention. An interventionist can provide the information needed to conduct a thorough and safe intervention.

An interventionist is an individual who is in recovery from substance abuse, typically, has been clean and sober for several years, and is, therefore, uniquely qualified to serve as a mediator between a person who suffers from addiction and their family.

An effective interventionist not only focuses on getting the addict into rehab, but also helps the family to:

• Prepare for the intervention
• Stage and mediate the intervention
• Understand what to do (and what not to do) after their loved one leaves rehab

One of the most important tasks of a professional interventionist is to restore the responsibility for addiction and recovery to where it belongs.

Most often, when family and friends struggle with an addicted loved one, they see it as their task to fix the addiction. They spend all kinds of time and effort to get their loved one to change. When this doesn't work, they fall into the habit of simply putting up with the situation, which only enables the addiction to continue.

Seeing that they are unable to change the addict's behavior, the family then assumes that the same will be true with any attempts they make to get the addict to rehab, thus they leave the decision to enter rehab up to the addict.

The interventionist helps to facilitate a change in the family dynamic to the proper balance: the substance user needs to be held accountable for their own addiction by making the changes necessary to overcome addiction, and the family needs to take the responsibility for holding an intervention to shift accountability back onto the addict where it belongs.

An effective interventionist will bring all the personalities of a family together, with all their diverse opinions, and help refocus everyone on a single solution that provides hope and direction.

An intervention specialist is essential to the intervention process.Confronting an addict without professional help can actually make things worse.

Once the decision has been made to do an invention, what happens next?

If someone in your family is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you may feel hopeless and helpless. The behavior you see in your addicted loved one is often problematic and destructive. The addict, on the other hand, sees their actions and decisions as "normal." The difference between the family's outside (objective) point of view and the addict's inside (subjective) point of view often leads to frustration, resentment, and confusion for all parties.

You may feel helpless but you aren't.

An intervention will help your family to take a proactive stance. However, an effective intervention takes preparation and planning.

The first step is to know what an intervention is NOT. Here are a few pointers:

• Simply holding an intervention "on the spot", without the benefit of planning and preparation, is ineffective at best. At worst, the whole thing could blow up in your face. An exception to this is if there is some type of emergency situation that MUST be dealt with immediately.
• Using an intervention to express anger and resentment at your addicted family member is counterproductive and leads to even more anger and resentment.
• Don't expect your loved one to be agreeable or accommodating to any suggestions or solutions your family may offer.
• Don't view the intervention as a way to force your loved one into treatment against their will.
• Don't make the mistake of making the consequences to the addict too weak. Your family's loved one will not try to fix their problem unless there's a compelling reason to do so.
• Don't view an intervention as "the last resort." It often takes multiple interventions before an addict agrees to enter treatment.

Now, here are some tips to help you hold an intervention that can create positive change.

To begin with, there are 3 general intervention categories: direct, indirect, and forcible.

Most types of interventions fall into the direct category. Direct interventions involve family members, friends, and loved ones confronting the addict with the support of an invertional specialist.

This intervention method is characterized by the following:

• Addicts themselves have little input
• Decisions are made ahead of time and planned carefully
• Entire treatment plan is set-up ahead of time
• The hope is that the addict will agree to the plans
• Can take the pressure off the addict, as all they have to do is agree with the plan

The goal of an indirect intervention is to involve both the family and the substance abuser in the process. Here are some characteristics of this method:

• Involves family with the addict's therapy
• Interactions with therapists and support specialists are open to everyone

Forcible interventions are carried out by professionals with the purpose of having an individual committed against their will.

It's important to note that interventions can be formal with an interventionist present, or informal, without a professional presence. Across the board, formal interventions are far more effective.

With this information in mind, following are 8 intervention methods for you to consider.

The cost of an intervention varies widely. While some basic interventions cost between $1,800 to $2,000 dollars (plus airfare and lodging), many will range from $3,500 to $10,000.

There are many factors that determine the price of an intervention, which includes:

• The intensity of the substance abuse (i.e. intermittent abuse or full-fledged addiction)
• Who performs the intervention (profession, credentials, etc.)
• How long the professional has to spend preparing for the intervention
• The type of intervention
• How long the actual intervention takes
• Any other associated costs such as airfare, food, hotels
• If you want the professional to take your loved one to the treatment facility

An intervention should be based on a person's need. Perhaps your loved isn't yet addicted to drugs or alcohol but is showing some dangerous behaviors that you need to call to their attention. Prevention is one of the most powerful tools to protect a loved one. In this case, a brief (evidence-based) tactic may be just what's needed.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), an evidence-based intervention "is not intended to treat people with serious substance dependence, but rather to treat problematic or risky substance use. In primary care settings, brief interventions last from 5 minutes of brief advice to 15-30 minutes of brief counseling."

In this type of on the spot counseling, you'll usually be charged only for office hours which makes this cost on the lower end of the scale.

If your loved one's addiction is beyond the needs of a brief intervention, it's advisable to hire a professional interventionist. This, of course, will be the most expensive option, but will offer you the best chance of success.

In some cases, the interventionist may be required to travel to you and spend the night. While some of these services include these kinds of costs in the fee, others do not. Make sure you find out the scope of these fees, as lodging and airfare can be expensive additional costs.

Additionally, a successful intervention requires thorough preparation and execution. The process may need to take place over a two-day period (the first being the family consultation and the second the actual intervention). And, even in some cases, the interventionist may need to stay for several days.

Things to note:

• The cost of the intervention services does NOT include treatment
• Insurance usually does NOT cover an interventionist's fees
• A non-refundable deposit is usually required (certified check, credit card, or money order)
• Some interventionists offer a sliding scale or financing options
• Many interventionists will accompany your loved one to rehab, which may cost an additional fee (usually about $400 plus airfare, if applicable)

Prolonged substance abuse can be quite costly. If left untreated, a substance abuse disorder can cause acute financial problems. This lifestyle also amasses physical, mental and emotional costs that far exceed financial concerns.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states, "According to several conservative estimates, every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft. Major savings to the individual and to society also stem from fewer interpersonal conflicts; greater workplace productivity; and fewer drug-related accidents, including overdoses and deaths."

While these costs may seem overwhelming, consider the fact that this financial investment is also an investment in your loved one's future, sobriety, and health.

SubstanceIntervention.com is comprised of a group of interventionists who are all in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction. Our company is considered to be a leader in the field. Unlike most interventionists, we are available to the family of the alcoholic/addict for several days, if needed--not just a handful of hours. We'll do whatever it takes to get your loved one into drug or alcohol rehab.

Our interventionists aren't even paid unless your family member is safely brought to treatment. We are 100% performance-based to minimize your risk. We charge $2500 to $3800, depending on your location. We service all of the USA, Canada and Mexico. All travel expenses for our interventionists are covered by our company.

What makes us different from other intervention companies?

• We run a performance-based operation and don't charge anything if the intervention doesn't succeed in getting your loved one to a treatment center immediately.
• We don't profit from the treatment center we bring your family member to. We leave this decision entirely up to the family.
• We pair an interventionist with your loved one, based on age, gender, addiction type and location.
• We pay for our own travel in its entirety.
• We follow up with the recovering addict and their family for up to a year after the intervention takes place.
• We make sure all relapse prevention plans that have been established in rehab are continue once the loved one has returned home.
• If needed, we stay in your location for multiple days at no additional cost and will absorb all fees for any extended stays. If an intervention doesn't work, we spend more time one-on-one with your loved one.

It can be intimidating and stressful to make the decision to intervene with a loved one's addiction. We can help you. Contact us now.