October 2005 GCR Newsletter - Steps To Successful Interventions

Interventions work when nothing else will, and professional, well organized and non confrontation interventions convince all but the most reluctant and denying addicts of the need for immediate drug treatment assistance.

Although interventions do work very well, and have a better than 80% success rate when evaluating success as an acceptance of the need for treatment, they can be difficult to organize and emotionally complicated; and a poorly run or confrontational intervention is worse than doing nothing at all. Interventions should be well organized, should include all people with a meaningful relationship to the addict, and may require professional involvement.

Include everyone meaningful to the addict during interventions

Families often wish to spare very young children or elderly relatives from the pains of interventions and the realities of the addiction; but to have the best probability of success, all people loved and close to the addict should be present and contribute meaningfully to the testimonials of interventions. Children particularly can present very compelling testimonials of hurt and sadness that only the most determined and hard hearted addict could ignore.

Geography will limit involvement somewhat, but those people unable to contribute in person can have their thoughts heard through read letters, phone calls or through video conferencing.

Practice makes perfect

Although some serious situations require a hastily organized emergency intervention, the classic or familial intervention works best when well organized, planned several weeks in advance, and when all involved have a chance to gather together and rehearse the process of the intervention.

Emotionally difficult, interventions can provoke feelings of anxiety amongst people uncomfortable confronting an addict. A practice run lowers experienced anxiety, shows everyone how the intervention should proceed and makes for a greater probability of success when it really counts.

Get professional help

Families may choose to organize and run their own interventions, but because of the difficulties of organization, the complicated emotions of the participants and because of uncertainty over treatment choices and logistics; many families choose to employ a professional interventions specialist. Professionals organize the family and ensure that interventions proceed with a non confrontational and constructive tone.