Addiction doesn’t only affect the addict, it also affects their friends, family members, and colleagues in a variety of ways. Whether the individual starts to become a burden, or stops fulfilling their responsibilities, addiction can make one narrow-minded and short-sighted. If you’ve had or have anyone in your life addicted to substances, you may be wondering what you can do to help.

Recent years have seen countless studies into the nature of addiction and how we can help these people break the cycle. One of the most sensationalized ways of doing this is through an intervention, which typically involves friends and family of the addict, as well as a professional addict interventionist.

 If you’re reading this, then it’s a strong indication that you’re looking for intervention services in VA or nearby. Read on for some useful resources for planning an intervention.

Determining the Necessity

Addiction can exist in every facet of life which brings us pleasure, from food to sex to substances, we’re innately liable to rely on consistent sensation for comfort. However, unlike with substances, addiction to food or sex can be pretty apparent as gluttony and debauchery are highly noticeable. With most substances, it may be hard to see the person struggling with their addiction, as part of their abuse disorder is shamefully sneaking around.

Before planning an intervention for a friend who has been drinking a little more than usual recently, be sure to do your due diligence. While an intervention is a powerful tool in the right time and place, misused it can be devastating and cause rifts in relationships, which lead to addiction-forming behavior. Be sure to avoid these 3 mistakes when staging an intervention.

Seek Professional Help

Once you’ve decided an intervention is necessary, the first thing you should do is seek professional advice. This is because you should ideally only stage an intervention once, with the idea that it needs to be as effective as possible.

 Thankfully, if you’re looking for intervention services in VA or nearby, you can get in touch with us today. We have a multitude of intervention specialists with experience staging interventions for people addicted to a variety of substances.

Form an Intervention Team

All parties who will be present during the intervention should now be introduced to the plan, these can be close friends, family members, or coworkers. Ensuring you are all on the same page when it comes to the intervention is vital, and you may need to come up with some creative contingency plans.

 It’s important to also note that the members on the intervention team shouldn’t be suffering from addiction themselves.

Outline the Plan

This can simply be a document with the date, time, location, and a list of those who will be attending the intervention. You may also wish to briefly outline what each person will be saying. This document should then be shared around all members of the group, including your professional intervention specialist.

 Ensuring everyone is on the same page is imperative to the efficacy of the intervention. Utilize Google Docs or Microsoft Office Online to create a document which can easily be shared.

 Remember to include the following details about the intervention:

• Date and time
• Location
• List of attendees
• Outline of each person’s contribution

Impact Statements

At this time, it can also be helpful to advise each person attending the intervention to write an impact statement about how the addiction has affected them. These should be written from a place of love; as personal attacks can delegitimize the intervention.

Gather Information

This relates back to where we started, now you should be expanding your knowledge on both substances and relevant treatment.

Substance Research

As previously alluded to, addictive substances have never been as studied as they have been in the last decade. This has provided us with extensive knowledge on how the drug affects the physiological and psychological systems. While you won’t need to understand this stuff on a professional level, ensuring you know what you’re talking about is important when the time comes.

There are a number of different ways you can do your research into substances, depending on your preferred medium for education.

• Reading – There are articles like this which have a great overview of substance addiction. DrugAbuse.gov has plenty more resources which are relevant and factual.
• Listening – There are podcasts which can provide insight into addiction or at least give relatable perspectives so you know you’re not alone.
• Watching – There are plenty of short Youtube videos, like this Tedx Talk, which promote the understanding of addiction.

Treatment Research

Depending on the substance in question, the addicted individual may require specific treatment. Be sure to work with your intervention specialist and do your research into treatment centers in your area to find one suitable for their particular needs.

Leading Up To The Intervention

In the days leading up to the intervention you may wish to rehearse to ensure everyone feels prepared and comfortable. You should also be prepared to manage your expectations, as the intervention may not be instantly effective compared to what many see in the media.

For more help with interventions services in VA or nearby, be sure to visit our blog for information on a variety of relevant topics.