Intervention For Alcoholics: The Step That Stirs Hope
It is hard to see an alcoholic loved one go down the path of doom and destruction. It is natural for you to want to prevent a life being lost, talent being wasted, and bridges being burned. But this is easier said than done.
Considering that alcohol is not a banned substance and is almost a staple part of our social lives and celebrations, many peopleincluding alcoholicstend to believe alcoholism is not a problem. They believe, If alcohol is so harmful, wouldnt it have been on the banned substances list?
Alcohol in large doses clouds thinking and impairs reasoning faculties. Many alcoholics hardly have senses about them to realize how their drinking habits are ruining their health, relationships, and work. They spend their energies planning how to procure the next drink and live their lives one drink at a time.
So how do you make these people realize they need help? The success of any alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program rests on the willingness of the alcoholic to engage voluntarily with the processes and procedures to achieve sober living.
Have you considered intervention?
Plan For Success Awakenings Treatment Center Can Help
While the intervention model can be helpful, whats most important is that you bring together the right people and have a plan that everyone agrees on. By preparing what to say, you can plan a successful intervention that leads to the desired outcome: getting the addict help.
Awakenings Treatment Center can help arrange addiction treatment services for a loved one. We treat all types of substance use and mental health disorders using a combination of evidence-based practices and alternative therapies. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how to take advantage of them.
Alcohol Abuse Intervention Program
Alcohol seems to have fallen into its own category of drug. Alcohol is accepted by society, is legal, and for many is not a problem when used responsibly. The reality, of course, is that alcohol is indeed a drug. When we look at all the cases, calls, and interventions we have been part of, alcohol is often the most devastating. The physical and mental deterioration alcohol abuse causes far exceed what we see from all other drugs combined. Alcohol, along with benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium, can cause death during the detox period. The medical attention necessary for an alcoholic during detox far exceeds that of the detox from all other drugs. Due to its availability, costs, and the right to drink legally when one comes of age, alcohol abuse interventions are among the most challenging.
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Level : The First Call
The process starts when a concerned family member receives phone coaching with the end goal of your loved one attending an ARISE First Meeting of the Intervention Network. The Intervention Network is made up of close friends and family members of your loved one.
According to the Association of Intervention Specialists, 56% of people who receive an ARISE intervention go into treatment at this level.
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Writing Down What Each Person Will Say
This is where each family member/friend will plan what they would like to say to the addict. This is not meant to criticize the addict/alcoholic or shame them for their behavior. Remember, addiction is a disease. Only the individuals behavior should be discussed, not attaching the behavior to the inherent characteristics of the individual. This note should be written in love and concern, not as a means of venting or demeaning the individual.
Can A Professional Interventionist Be Helpful
If friends and family feel too emotionally charged while working on a DIY intervention, they can consult a professional interventionist, social worker, therapist, or other counselor at any time for help. They may ask the person to lead the intervention or simply seek guidance in planning the event. Professional assistance at any level can be extremely helpful, as an outside perspective can guide the process toward the most beneficial conclusion and keep everyone focused.
In some instances, hiring a professional is essential. Professional interventionists are highly recommended if the person who is the subject of the intervention has displayed any of the following:
- Serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc
- A history of violence, such as domestic abuse or verbal abuse
- A history of suicidal talk or attempts, or other self-harming behaviors
- Polysubstance abuse
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How To Write A Family Intervention Letter
Before discussing how to write an intervention letter, it is important to understand why you should write one.
When families communicate with an addict or alcoholic, almost everything the family says is perceived as criticism and a threat to the loved ones solution that solution being drugs and/or alcohol.
When addicts or alcoholics feel threatened, they become fearful, and that turns quickly to anger.
The family sitting in front of them is then viewed as the enemy and the problem. What is likely to ensue when the perceived problem confronts them and their solution?
Without a well-prepared, calculated approach, the family is most likely going to talk off the cuff. With emotions running high, the chances are slim for the conversation to move in the right direction.
Do I Need Health Insurance To Receive This Service
The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
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Family And Couples Counseling
Counseling for the families and partners of patients being treated for substance abuse disorders can be very useful under the proper circumstances and is often provided in the context of other modes of treatment such as methadone maintenance or partial hospitalization. The family of an adolescent in treatment is often critical. And a spouse or partner can provide key support to help the patient achieve or maintain abstinence. Family and couples counseling is best provided by professionals who specialize in this type of counseling.
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Begin The Separation Of Addiction And Individual
Regardless of what they may say in defiance, no person wants to be enslaved by a substance or behavior they want to be loved and accepted for who they are and not feel judged. Unfortunately, the individual is difficult to recognize through addiction, and the nonacceptance of addictive behavior is perceived as an overall rejection of the person as an individual. This is where intervention can be especially helpful to remind the loved one that there is a difference between them and their addiction. An intervention can be an effective opportunity for the family to express their contempt for the addiction but their unconditional love for the individual.
This dialogue in an intervention, which begins the process of truly separating the individual from the addiction, is necessary for both the family and the addicted person. Most importantly, isolating the addiction as an unwelcome part of the familyand not the suffering family memberlets the loved one know that all hope is not lost, and there is a path to redemption.
When To Intervene For A Loved One
It can be hard to pull the trigger on intervention plans. You might second-guess yourself, worrying that youre imagining that their substance use is worse than it really is. Or you may think that an intervention will only alienate your loved one and damage their family relationships.
Theres always a risk that an intervention can lead to interpersonal problems, and thats a leading reason for cold feet on an intervention. You can lessen the chances that the intervention will go sour by following a proven model.
Despite the most common hesitations, you know its time to intervene for a loved one when their substance abuse is:
- Threatening their own life, health, and wellbeing, or someone elses
- Affecting you on a personal level, such as loaning them money that goes unrepaid, having your property damaged or stolen, or causing you emotional stress
Either of these two reasons is enough to hold an intervention, but many people considering an intervention are affected in both ways. Its extremely common for substance abuse to damage lives, both of the person using the substance and the loved ones surrounding them.
If you notice that your loved ones drug or alcohol abuse has toxic effects on their life or yours, then its time to consider intervening.
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Find Treatment For Alcoholism
Finding the right treatment program for a family member suffering from alcohol abuse is challenging. However, completing it as soon as possible ensures a healthy recovery process. An excellent treatment facility must educate the family and the patient on everything related to alcohol abuse and use disorder.
Experts at Long Island Interventions are experienced in alcoholism and alcoholism recovery. Long Island Intervention helps families make the difficult decision to take the first step to alcohol recovery. Call Long Island Interventions today to help create a positive change in the life of a loved one suffering from alcoholism.
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What Are The Goals Of An Alcohol Intervention
While the intervention is an important step to help lead the conversation about a loved ones alcohol addiction, it might not end with them in treatment.8
Goals might differ depending on the individual and the conversation. If your loved one is willing to talk about treatment, discuss their preferences. Maybe they want to start with a doctor visit, schedule an appointment with a therapist, or attend a mutual help meeting before diving into a treatment program.9 On the other hand, your loved one may reject the idea of treatment altogether. These individuals might need a break from the treatment talk. Additionally, the intervention may set off other issues or complicate your relationship with them. Regardless of the outcome of the intervention, its important to be patient.
About Cdcs Alcohol Sbi Activities
CDCs alcohol SBI initiative includes efforts to support alcohol SBI implementation in medical and other settings, improve tracking of alcohol SBI implementation, and identify and partner with healthcare providers, health systems, and health plans to develop and implement system-level strategies that foster alcohol SBI implementation.
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Make Plans For Treatment
When staging an intervention, it is important to already have plans in place should the addicted person agree to go to treatment. While it is important to get an agreeable loved one to treatment as soon as possible, it does not necessarily need to be done the same way it has been sensationalized on television showsthat is, immediately rushing the person off in a waiting vehicle, directly to rehab. In some cases, there may be a need to deal with important business or make final preparations in between the time of the intervention and the time to leave for treatment. However, the shorter that time period can be, the better.
It is necessary for the family to decide upon and plan for at least one treatment option for the addicted individual ahead of the intervention. This can be discussed with the interventionist, as some approaches to intervention recommend more than one option, while others call for only one. Therefore, it is important to carefully weigh treatment options in consideration of the individual attending and what may be the most effective form of rehab for them. And if the selected treatment program is far away, it is beneficial to reserve a flexible or refundable plane ticket in the event that the intervention outcome does not go as planned.
What Is The Effectiveness Of Having An Intervention For Drug Or Alcohol Rehab
Interventions can be extremely effective at getting your loved one to a drug or alcohol rehab center. However, it does not guarantee that they will stay there. Ultimately, it is up to the addict/alcoholic to agree to treatment and follow the protocol at the chosen rehab center. In this case, the effectiveness of the intervention depends on each case. However, to have the greatest likelihood that the substance abuser will stay in a treatment center, it would be beneficial to look for rehab centers that offer the types of activities the user enjoys.
Although the activities are not the primary focus of treatment, they can help relieve tension and distress often caused when transitioning from addiction to sobriety. Most treatment centers are run differently, so researching before the intervention occurs is vital. Remember, although your loved one may disagree with going to a treatment center for their substance abuse disorder, it does not discount the possibility of them seeking treatment in the future. Do the research, make a plan, and give a choice to your loved one.
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People Often Hear Of Alcoholics Who Just Gave Up Drinking One Day And It Is True That This Can Happen There Is A Difference However Between Someone With An Alcohol Abuse Disorder And A Heavy Drinker
A heavy drinker can and will stop when faced with a consequence whereas an alcoholic will just keep consuming the drink. For families researching alcohol abuse intervention, we can say with near certainty that an alcoholic is not a heavy drinker who can just put it down. In other words, if you need to step in and intervene, then consequences are not enough to cause them to stop. We suggested not comparing the alcoholic in your life to other situations that may offer only false hope. Step back and try to focus on what the alcohol is doing to you and members of your family.
Standard Format For Effective Intervention Letters
The first part of an intervention letter usually affirms that you love and miss the loved one.
This is crucial because it helps to defuse the anger by saying things the loved one does not expect to hear, perhaps things long forgotten, whereas the expectation was an attack about behaviors and the drug or alcohol abuse. These comments are an opportunity to engage the loved one and to share both laughter and tears, an experience that can be very emotional.
The second part of an intervention letter touches upon the addiction and behaviors.
It is of the utmost importance to have the facts straight, for if you dont, your loved one will let you know that you are wrong. If done incorrectly, you will lose the loved one, who might well walk out.
The better approach is to focus on known facts and behaviors rather than actual drug or alcohol use, because it is much easier to argue behaviors than things not actually witnessed.
Because this is a pivotal moment, not having a professional in the room is risky. The interventionist is trained to intervene and defuse the situation should things begin to unravel. An emotionally attached family member is rarely, if ever, effective in this situation.
The third part of an intervention letter is the request for help.
This part is short, to the point and also vague. In this section, the family is only asking the loved one to accept the help being offered today, avoiding a discussion of details, even if pressed for it.
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Tips For A Successful Alcohol Intervention
While planning an alcohol intervention can be a very stressful and nerve-wracking experience, there are some methods you can implement to take the pressure off as you begin to prepare for this conversation with your loved one.Above all else, the goal of an alcohol intervention is to get your loved one into an alcohol rehab clinic, where they can receive professional help for their addiction.
What Method Of Intervention Is Best
While all interventions are confrontational to one degree or another, some methods of intervention focus more on love and compassion, and others are more aggressive, focusing on the addicted person and taking a more forceful position. Depending on the individual in need of addiction treatment, the approach to an intervention may vary, but there are two are basic approaches overall: a surprise and an invitation.
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The Effects Of An Intervention
An intervention is confrontational, emotional, and often a turning point in the lives of most everyone involved. It is a significant moment, one that may change the course of a loved ones addiction. Interventions are not only about the addicted person but are also very involved with the family. Especially in the event that the intervention does not accomplish the goal of getting the person suffering from addiction into treatment, tough decisions, and commitments to therapy fall to the family members. Whether immediately successful or not, an intervention can have tremendous effects on everyone involved, but the less the addicted loved one is swayed by the event, the more work the family will have to do to heal from the addiction.
