Thanks to some reality TV shows, interventions to help loved ones struggling with addiction have become synonymous with drama as well as emotional confrontations and proclamations. The reality however is an addiction intervention needs to be none of those things if it’s to be successful.
An addiction treatment intervention is a process through which family and friends take steps to persuade a loved one to seek treatment for their addiction. Before getting to this point, those closest to the addict have usually put up with their behavior feeling helpless to help or stop them. Maybe previous attempts at bringing up the addiction have been met with hostility or denial or the individual simply refused to address their habits.
Either way, you and a few family and friends feel it’s time for an intervention. You want your loved one to get the help they need to conquer addiction and feel that hearing this from you will push them to do just that.
Outcomes of an Addiction Treatment Intervention
Before organizing an intervention, you need to know what you expect to achieve. Do you want your loved one to seek treatment? If so, how soon? Keep in mind that the more wiggle room you give them after the intervention, the more reasons and excuses they might find not to go to rehab.
What outcomes can you expect from an intervention?
- Family and friends share how their loved one’s addiction has affected them. The main premise of the intervention is to let your loved one know what impact their behavior has had on you as a friend or family. Hearing this from those who are closest to them might be the push needed to finally get them to seek help.
- Denial, hostility, and anger from the addict. Your loved one might feel ambushed and cornered and may react with anger, evasion, or hostility. This comes from a place of shame and guilt about their addiction. Anticipating this reaction can help you remain calm and non-confrontational throughout the intervention.
- An agreement from the individual struggling with addiction to seek treatment. The ultimate goal and best outcome of the intervention is to get your loved one to accept to go to rehab.
- Alternatively, your loved one may refuse to seek treatment, doubling down on their negative reaction. Should this happen, reiterate your support and encouragement and realize you’ve done your best. You can try another intervention at a future time.
Addiction Treatment in Kentucky
At the Robert Alexander Center for Recovery in Kentucky, we understand how important interventions are in getting people to seek treatment. We have worked with families to arrange addiction interventions and through our family therapy program, we’ve helped them rebuild their relationshipsOnce your loved one accepts to go for treatment, we have various programs suited for them from the detoxification program to intensive outpatient care and outpatient rehab treatment. Get in touch with us today and we can help you arrange an intervention or help your loved one beat addiction.
