This refers to an attempt by one person, or a group of people, usually close family members or colleagues, to get their loved one to look for professional assistance that could help them deal with an addiction to a variety of substances or actions.
The term “intervention help” is usually associated with seeking help towards beating alcoholism or an addiction to drugs such as cocaine, bhang, marijuana or heroin.
Family members normally take the action after they notice that their loved ones are suffering from the effects of the drugs they are using, especially if their health is being affected adversely.
The best way to conduct an intervention is through counseling and therapy. This can be done by the family members themselves or by contacting a professional to help. During this process, alcoholics or drug addicts are confronted and told that what they are doing should stop because they are injuring themselves.
The only aim of interventions is to get the addicted person to join a treatment program for his or her addiction. An intervention must be well organized and planned out. This is because if it is poorly carried out, the person might end up with a feeling that he or she is a disgrace to the rest of the family. When this happens, they will tend to withdraw from family gatherings and feel left out.
Initially, family members and co-workers would surprise the subject with an intervention meeting. However, this method more often leaves him or her out of the arrangement of such a meeting. A more recent technique allows an interventionist to inform the subject that a meeting would be held to discuss his or her addiction several days before the actual meeting takes place.
This method allows the alcoholic to prepare psychologically for the meeting, removing the aspect of being taken by surprise when he or she is invited to participate in the discussion, and makes him or her feel respected, as opposed to being manipulated, by the friends and family members involved in the intervention process.
Intervention meetings should be held in a place that is neutral, not the subject’s workplace or home. The most suitable place is where the subject will be relaxed, calm and collected. It should be a secluded area, away from prying strangers, where the person can talk openly. There should be no interruptions during the session and the subject must be sober during the confrontation. Many rehabilitation centers also have trained counselors to help family members get ready to talk to the alcoholic or drug addict. Such a meeting can also be done at their workplace.
During the meeting, subjects are given the disadvantages of engaging in the drugs or alcohol and how these substances affect their health and well-being. Interventionists (either family members or friends) must raise their points and explain them to the subjects without fear, even though this may hurt them. However, alcoholics and drug addicts must be reminded that they are valued and loved by their family, and that all steps taken within the intervention were solely for their advantage.
Nobody should try to force subjects to undertake treatment at a rehabilitation center. That decision should be left to them. If subjects accept proposals to join a substance addiction treatment facility, they should be escorted there immediately, before they can change their minds, so they may be given the necessary support to end the addiction.
