How to Conduct a Safe Alcoholic Intervention

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Are you worried about a loved one’s dependency on alcohol? Being dependent on alcohol means not being able to get through twenty-four hours without needing an alcoholic drink. This can cause physical and mental issues, along with family and relationship struggles.

If you’re thinking about holding an alcoholic intervention for a loved one, you may be wondering where to start. Take a look at everything you need to know about running a successful intervention.

What is an Intervention?

An intervention gives family and friends the opportunity to talk to the addict honestly and openly. It is meant to be a safe space where the situation can be tactfully discussed. The addict may be unaware of how the addiction has made family and friends feel.

It’s the ideal time to give examples of how alcoholism has been destructive in the addict’s life. Perhaps he has lost friends, lost jobs, has financial issues, or more. It’s also important to offer a solution, like a treatment plan you’ve done our research on.

How to Stage Your Intervention

An intervention is something that should very rarely be spontaneous. It’s something that requires thought, and there should only be a small group of people taking part. Too many voices can become confusing and judgemental for the addict.

Planning and Preparation

It’s important to plan where and when the intervention will take place. You may also need to plan who will be responsible for making sure the addict gets there.  When preparing everyone for a drug and alcohol intervention, it can help to get advice from a medical professional or rehabilitation center staff.

Not only will they be able to advise you on how to approach the intervention, but they can also be present at the intervention to offer treatment options. Similarly, a trained professional from a rehab center may be able to diffuse any tension during the intervention, avoiding possible dangerous situations.

Choose Your Intervention Team

It’s a good idea to choose someone to lead the intervention, someone who can keep the discussion on point and monitor how the addict is feeling. If it’s a child, the leader is usually a parent, and if it’s a married person, the leader is usually the spouse.

Choose people who are willing to offer support over judgment. Remember, the road to recovery is often a long one, so you’ll need people who are willing to keep any promises they make.

Lay Out Consequences

What will happen if the addict doesn’t follow through with treatment? Often, addicts respond to intervention by putting up a defense or ignoring the statements given by everyone. This should be followed up by consequences.

Perhaps you’ll need to take away the addict’s car, ask him to move out, or limit visitations with his children. When the addict is ready to commit to therapy, you can revisit these rules and adjust as you see fit.

Take Turns

Every person at the intervention should get a chance to speak directly to the addict, rather than the leader speaking to everyone. Ask everyone to prepare a short statement about how the alcoholic behavior has affected them and the addict. This will be an emotionally charged time, but it’s best to try and maintain your composure if possible.

Offer a Treatment Plan

The most important element of doing an intervention with an alcoholic is offering a treatment plan. There has to be a solution to the problem. You can have a medical professional present, or you can show the research you’ve done on various programs and therapies.

The Goal of an Intervention

The ultimate goal of an intervention is to encourage the addict to enroll in alcohol treatment. Some people don’t need to give up alcohol entirely, depending on their situation, but it’s often wiser to aim for sobriety. Discussing the options with a doctor will help you and your loved one understand what the future might hold.

What if the Intervention Fails?

Many interventions fail the first time. That’s why it’s so important to follow through with the consequences you’ve laid out. Just because you’ve done an intervention before, it doesn’t mean you can’t plan another when the time is right. Sometimes it takes addicts a while to come to a place of acceptance.

Let us do What we do Best

At Oakvine, we offer excellent care at affordable prices. Your loved one will receive a personalized treatment plan in a safe and encouraging environment. Our aim for every client is to put them on the path towards a bright and healthy future.

If you have a loved one who is an addict and you’ve come to the end of your tether, we can help. It’s always vital to seek out professional help and advice in the case of addiction. Why not take a look at some of the treatment programs we offer?

Alcoholic Intervention: Getting the Results You Want

For many families, an alcoholic intervention is the best way of making sure your loved one will eventually be okay. Sometimes that means putting them in the care of someone other than yourself. At Oakvine, we will do everything in our power to make sure our clients go on to live the best version of their lives.

If you’d like any more information, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.