Drug Addiction Intervention

Drug addiction intervention has one core goal: to help someone with a substance use disorder engage with a suitable treatment program, typically residential rehab.

If you’re concerned about your loved one’s patterns of substance use, staging an intervention could help them to take the first step on the road to recovery. An intervention for drug addicts can be effective even if the person concerned has expressed no interest in going to rehab.

What is A Drug Intervention?

An intervention for drug addiction invites someone to seek treatment for substance use disorder while an intervention for alcoholism invites someone to pursue the correct course of care for alcohol use disorder. Both types of intervention unfold in the same manner.

Every effective intervention for drug addiction will be framed as a request rather than a demand.

Often, the person grappling with an addiction to prescription medications or illicit drugs will not have explored treatment options. Trying to force a loved one to commit to detox and recovery is a much less effective strategy than offering them a request or invitation to engage with a vetted and appropriate treatment program for their addiction.

Given the unique properties of all addictions, an intervention should always be personalized.

Every person is unique, and every addiction is different. As such, interventions should be personalized to suit. That said, today’s guide provides a framework to streamline the process.

Drug Intervention Basics

A drug intervention is a formal process with a single goal: connecting the person with an addiction with the right course of treatment.

In most cases, interventions target those with severe addictions. Resultantly, the most effective treatment will typically involve a stay of 30 days or more in an inpatient rehab facility.

Consider this general framework for a drug addiction intervention California:

Any intervention for substance use issues should offer the person with an addiction a pre-arranged treatment plan for their addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders.
During a drug intervention, friends and family members in the intervention group can explain how the person’s behaviors related to substance use have impacted them. Each person involved should use specific examples to illustrate their points.
Effective drug interventions offer the person with an addiction clear steps to follow in order to engage with drug detox and ongoing treatment.
Everyone participating in the drug intervention should be aware of the next steps if the person in question refuses to engage with treatment.
Successful drug interventions are carefully planned invitations to commit to a pre-arranged treatment program.

How to Stage a Drug Intervention

The purpose of a drug intervention is to get your loved one the treatment they need for substance use disorder, even if they are initially resistant or unwilling.

Friends and family meet at a set time and place without the knowledge of the person being approached at the intervention. Everyone present at the drug intervention will get the chance to express their concern for the person struggling with an addiction.

While all drug interventions are different, they follow the same structure. This can be divided into the following three components:

Preparation
Intervention
Follow-Up

Preparation

The planning stages of a drug intervention can be time-consuming.

You must first decide on who will be present on the day of the drug intervention. In addition to close friends and family members, consider including some people from the more extended social group of the person in question. This can help to underscore the scope of the consequences of addiction.

Do not invite anyone to the intervention who condones or supports the behaviors of the person abusing substances.

You’re then ready to move ahead with planning properly.

Form a small planning group
Engage an interventionist
Structure the intervention
Rehearse before the intervention
Set a time and place for the drug intervention

Form a small planning group

For the initial planning stages, it is unnecessary to include all intervention attendees.

Contact everyone invited to the intervention with the exception of your loved one with an addiction.

A small core group can then perform the remaining preparatory steps.

Engage an interventionist

Most interventions benefit from the presence of a professional interventionist.

Ask all those who will attend the intervention to seek advice and recommendations for interventionist services. Reconvene the group, pool your resources, and engage the services of your chosen interventionist.

Structure the intervention

Ensure that all members of the drug addiction intervention group are clear about what they plan to say.

It is vital for everyone to use concrete examples to illustrate the impact of the person’s drug addiction.

Messages should be conveyed with as little emotion and as much objectivity as possible.

Every member of the intervention group will have different messages for the person in question. All drug interventions should also convey a powerful unifying message: treatment and recovery is not only possible but the best option given the circumstances.

A drug intervention should make it clear to the person being approached that there is robust support already in place for detox and treatment.

Rehearse before the intervention

While waiting for the drug intervention, meet and rehearse what you will say in the running order planned for the day.

It can be effective to begin the drug intervention with a message from someone more remote from the person being approached.

Set a time and place for the drug intervention

Choose a time when everyone concerned will be free. Aim to approach the person in question at a private residence when they are sober. Most interventions involving intoxicated subjects are ineffective.

Intervention

On the day of the intervention, stick closely to your planned structure.

Everyone should begin with an expression of love and concern for the loved one in question before highlighting how the actions of that person have caused them distress. Everyone speaking should use concise examples.

If all goes well, you can start to relocate your loved one to a prearranged inpatient rehab center.

Often, drug interventions do not generate the intended result. Reactions can include ambivalence, hostility, or an outright refusal to comply with drug addiction treatment.

Try not to force the issue if your loved one is not conducive to the idea of drug rehab. If the interventionist is unable to help you to resolve the issue, abort the drug intervention. Allow some time to pass and consider another approach.