Interventions

One of the trickiest and most heartbreaking aspects of being close to an addict is realizing that no matter how hard you may want or try to help, they likely won’t change any behavior until and unless they themselves can admit they have a problem. Still, there are some ways to help encourage an addict or alcoholic to open their eyes to the truth of a situation. And staging an intervention is a longstanding technique designed to help do just that.

What Is An Intervention?

In the world of addiction and recovery, “intervention” may be a tricky word to pin down.

In its broadest sense, “intervention” can refer to any number of practices employed to help curb alcoholism and drug abuse, including cognitive behavioral therapy, couples counseling, and a technique called motivational interviewing.

But an intervention, as it’s perhaps most commonly known, is an organized attempt to confront a friend, family member, or loved one about their drinking problem.

The keyword is “organized.” An intervention of this type often involves several people in an alcoholic’s life including friends, family members, and sometimes even co-workers, all coming together to express their concerns for the individual.

The idea, and indeed, the greatest hope, behind an intervention of this type, is to collectively hold up a mirror to an addict or alcoholic, to help him or she understand just how much of an impact their actions are having and just how many people they’re affecting. If you’re unsure whether you should be holding an intervention for someone or what rehab options are available, call 800-839-1686Who Answers? to speak to an addiction treatment specialist.