Sometimes a simple conversation isn’t enough. You may have to work with other people to stage a proper intervention in order to get the desired result. Alcoholism and drug dependence are two of the most common types of addiction that warrant an intervention. In some cases, interventions are also staged for people who have a compulsive eating disorder or gambling problem.

Interventions help emphasize the weight of the person’s actions. It lets them know how their condition is affecting the people around them. An alcohol abuse intervention is all about presenting the opportunity of proper addiction treatment before the problem gets even worse.

Through an alcoholism intervention, friends and family members can share different examples of how alcoholism has caused problems that have had destructive or detrimental effects on the person and their loved ones.

Interventions are not just about confronting the person. It’s about giving them the opportunity to receive treatment from healthcare professionals. This is especially important for those with co-occurring disorders such as serious mental illness or medical condition. They can get help from a mental health professional on top of getting treatment for their alcoholism.

An intervention is more than a simple conversation. It can be broken down into several essential steps. It all begins with the planning stage.

A successful intervention needs to be planned carefully. It requires thought and attention to detail. People involved in the intervention will have to do their research regarding alcohol addiction, its effects, and potential treatment options. This is the best way to gain some perspective on what the person is going through. You need to get into this process with an open mind and lots of empathy. This will help you present your thoughts rationally based on what the other person is experiencing.

It is best to work with a social worker, a therapist, or a professional interventionist who can organize the entire thing, facilitate it, and make sure everything runs smoothly. Interventions can get emotionally charged and you need someone to keep everything organized and under control.

You can either ask them to help plan the intervention or even participate in the actual intervention so they can provide relevant treatment information. The interventionist can orient everyone and prepare them for the process, which can become dramatic and confrontational. It can potentially stir up a sense of resentment or betrayal on the part of the addicted person. There is a proper way to handle these situations and it is best to let the professionals guide you.

During the planning stage you will have to form an intervention team. Choosing the members of this intervention team carefully is very important. This includes friends and family members who are concerned for the person’s health and well-being. For teenagers, a parent usually leads the intervention team. For married individuals, it is often their spouse who leads the intervention.

While dealing with an alcohol addiction is a lonely and scary experience, having supportive people around you can take some of that stress away, as they provide emotional support and encouragement.

As you can see, interventions are a carefully planned process. You can’t go into it without a plan. Schedule a date, time, and location where everyone will gather. You can do a rehearsal before the scheduled date just so everyone is on the same page.

On the scheduled date, the person is asked to go to the intervention site without being told the reason.

During the actual intervention, the team will share statements about how the person’s addiction has impacted them and why they wish for the person to get better. They need to help their loved one understand their concerns and feelings without getting confrontational, judgmental, or resentful. It is important that the intervention does not turn into a fight. It should not take too long.

The moderator will guide the intervention team through this process, making sure that everyone has enough time to speak.

The person is then presented with a treatment option that has already been chosen by the intervention team ahead of time. They are asked to accept this option on the spot. Friends and family members have to make it clear that there will be consequences if they choose to refuse treatment. During the intervention, these consequences and changes will be listed down to show how serious the intervention team is.

Consequences may include taking away their car, asking them to move out, or losing visitation rights with children. It is important that you are ready to follow through on these consequences.

The goal of an intervention is not to pick a fight or point fingers. In fact, successful interventions usually have three main goals: help the person realize that they have a problem, set boundaries, and present them with treatment options.

Interventions can help solve the problem of people being in denial or being unaware of their situation. The intervention process will open their eyes to how their condition is affecting the people around them. If they think they are the only ones suffering, then they are less likely to seek treatment. But if they know they are also hurting their loved ones, this can make them more open to addiction treatment.

Interventions also seek to establish boundaries through the use of consequences. Not only does it open the person’s eyes to the consequences of their alcohol abuse, it also shows them the seriousness of their condition and why they need to seek treatment immediately.

As difficult as it is to watch someone struggle with an alcohol use disorder, there is a fine line between supporting them and enabling them. If you do not follow through with the consequences you have established, it will only allow them to continue spiraling.

Finally, an intervention also gives the person a clear direction moving forward. The goal is not to blame them for these difficulties you are experiencing but to give them reason to seek treatment. Once that has been established, they need to know what steps they can take to get started on their recovery journey. The hope is for them to take that option and begin their addiction treatment.

When it comes to interventions, total abstinence is not always the goal. The goal is usually smaller. Getting them in the door and helping them realize they can still recover from their condition is a big enough goal. Giving up alcohol for good is a lifelong challenge, and it is something they are supposed to decide on. They need to accept a life of sobriety or else treatment won’t work. The only goal of an intervention is to break this cycle of abuse and give them a proper start so they can finally work on moving past their addiction.

One of the most important factors you need to consider during the planning stage is the members of the intervention team. This is essential to the success of your intervention because these are the people who will share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns about the addicted individual. You can hold a successful intervention without a licensed professional, but you cannot do it without a proper intervention team.

These are the people who know the addicted person best. They are the ones who will be doing the research on addiction treatments and choosing treatment options that are suitable for the individual. The members of the intervention team should be able to present a united front or else it will not work.

Every team member should agree on the date and location of the intervention meeting. Their message should be consistent and their plan has to be cohesive. They need to organize the event without the person knowing. It is crucial that they don’t know about the intervention meeting.

This intervention group may consist of close family members, friends, and coworkers. Choose a group of four to six people who are important to the addicted individual. If you want the event to be more organized or if you want some professional advice, you can add an interventionist, social worker, or therapist to the team.

Do not include anyone who may disrupt the intervention process. Anyone who is dealing with their own substance abuse problems should not be included. Do not include anyone who is disliked by the person. Avoid anyone who will sabotage the intervention plan.

Choose people that the addicted person loves and respects. Try to stick with people who are able to stay rational and stick with the script. Avoid anyone who will end up saying too much or not stick with what they are supposed to say. With your intervention team in place, you can start ironing out the details of the meeting.

The sad reality is that not everyone will agree to seek help even after an intervention. Be prepared for this scenario. During the planning stage, the intervention group should decide on consequences that will be implemented should the person not accept treatment. Each member of the group will declare what action they will take if their loved one does not cooperate.

Be prepared to follow through on these consequences, or else the person will not take it seriously. This will only enable their substance abuse, which is only more damaging for them in the long run.

Even if they do not agree to treatment, you should not take this as a personal failure. You need to set boundaries for your sake and the sake of your addicted loved one. Sometimes people are not willing to accept responsibility for their problems. Sticking with the consequences will help the person realize the impact on their drinking especially towards the people they care about. Be patient and eventually they may seek treatment on their own.

You don’t have to jump straight to organizing an intervention meeting especially if you haven’t tried talking to them personally first. Have a one-on-one conversation with them. This may be less intimidating for the person, which can make them more receptive to what you have to say.

Of course, the reaction will vary from one person to another. You can gauge the situation based on how well you know them. You can tell how they might respond to a one-on-one conversation about their substance abuse.

Try to get them alone in a situation that is free from distractions and noise. There you can tell them about your concerns and ask if they are open to hearing your thoughts. Do not use language that blames them or shames them for their medical condition. Do not get angry or raise your voice. If you communicate from a place of concern and empathy, they may respond better.

If they are receptive to your concerns, ask them about the possibility of seeking professional help. If they get defensive, let it go for now. This is when you may have to start planning an intervention.

Addicted individuals suffering from alcoholism tend to have plenty of intense emotions. An intervention will not be a welcome surprise for them. In fact, there is no guarantee that the intervention will be successful no matter how organized it is. Even if you do everything right, the person may still react with anger and resentment.

With that in mind, there are still a few things you can do to improve your chances of success.

For starters, everyone on the intervention team should do their own research on addiction, alcoholism, and the treatment process. This will help you speak from a place of understanding. It will also make the person more comfortable knowing that you can guide them through the difficult process of treatment. If you understand what they are going through, you can choose an appropriate treatment center and program for them.

Planning the intervention is crucial and may take weeks depending on the people involved. You have to spend enough time organizing the meeting, lining up everyone’s schedule, and looking for viable treatment options for your loved one’s addiction.

Rehearsing the intervention ahead of time will also ensure that the process goes smoothly. This way, everyone will know what to do and say during the actual intervention.

If you do not have a professional interventionist in the team, you have to appoint someone to be the liaison. Their job is to keep everyone on the same page and make sure everyone has enough time to speak.

Your loved one may have several objections during this intervention process so be prepared with calm responses for each of them. Stay calm, focused, and rational when giving your responses.

Try to eliminate all obstacles that will keep them from going to rehab. Make sure that their children will be taken care of and that their business or work life is properly managed.

Finally, remember that an intervention is not a hostile attack. Try to prevent anyone from getting overly emotional. Communication is the key. Prepare your loved one for immediate addiction treatment as soon as they agree to the plan.

The intervention is only the beginning. If the person accepts treatment, you need to continue guiding them and supporting them throughout this challenging stage of their life.

Each member of the intervention group should stay involved and keep providing emotional support as the person receives treatment. Ongoing support will go a long way. It will keep them motivated and inspired to continue putting in the work.

If they go into an inpatient rehab facility, make sure you visit them and send them care packages. If there are family therapy sessions, don’t forget to participate. Be an active part of their recovery process so they know they are not alone.

It’s all about striking that balance between supporting your loved one and enabling their behavior. You don’t need to wait for them to hit rock bottom before you intervene. If they decide that they wouldn’t go into rehab, you cannot force them. The only thing you can do is follow through with the consequences you have established and start focusing on your own health and well-being.

If they decide to accept treatment, try to be there for them every step of the way. Alcoholism is not an easy thing to deal with, but it’s something that you can overcome with the right treatment.

Treatment is an addicted individualʼs best option if they want to recover. Beating an addiction not only requires eliminating the physical dependence, but also addressing the behavioral factors that prevent them from wanting to get better. Simply quitting may not change the psychological aspect of addiction. Some people quit for a while, and then take drugs or alcohol again, only to overdose because they did not detox properly. Recovery involves changing the way the patient feels, thinks, and behaves.