Drug Abuse Interventions

The process of becoming a licensed interventionist is similar to a psychology degree. You have to take courses in drug usage, counseling, and psychology to become an interventionist. Don't take chances trying to do an intervention by yourself, get a trained professional to increase your chances of a successful intervention for the alcoholic or drug addict.

A family Intervention or drug and alcohol interventionist's job is to break down denial. Denial is a very strong defense mechanism used by addicts that enables them to justify continuing their destructive behavior. Often they blame their usage on family members, jobs, and stress, anything that allows them not to accept responsibility for their addiction and continue the substance abuse. Breaking through these barriers and gaining commitment to receive effective care is essential to begin healing, and this is the job of the interventionist and professional drug and alcohol intervention. The sole purpose of intervention is to get the addict to an effective treatment facility immediately! There are many phases to an intervention. The first phase is coordination with the family and with help from the interventionists or other professional selecting a treatment facility. Advance arrangements must be made as the expectation is immediate admittance upon the completion of the intervention. The second step is to begin a dialogue with a professional interventionist. An experienced interventionist will quickly move the family from a disorganized chaotic state to a cohesive, focused group, always keeping in mind the goal of getting the addict to drug treatment or alcohol rehabilitation immediately. The intention is clear, the tone is hopeful and the resolve is unwavering. This process is born out of love and concern for the addict. Correctly executed professional interventions and interventionists are successful in 90%-95%+ of all cases. In the event that the drug addict or alcoholic chooses not to agree to treatment, the family, friends, and employers must be prepared for the next step. This involves the total and immediate cessation of all enabling behaviors by the parties involved. Typically the only reason this process may not be effective is that in the past, consequences of the drug addict's behavior have been so minimal that the addict doesn't think that anything will change. The family must be prepared to set strong and unwavering boundaries and not waver at the time of intervention. The addict is once again told he/she is loved and that the family and interventionist are willing to get them effective drug or alcohol treatment. It must be made clear, however, that the family (with the guidance of the interventionist as a mediator) will no longer accept this behavior and watch the addict slowly kill themselves. The drug addict or alcoholic is asked to leave and expect no support of any kind until he or she asks for drug rehab or alcoholism treatment. No money, no roof over one's head, no shoulder to cry on, nothing except a request for treatment will be granted or even acknowledged. Intervention can be a very painful process, because it is a time during which a family often gets to see the true strength and resolve of the addictive mind. Intervention and interventionists are professionals in mediating this process, and comforting both the addict and the family in the strong emotions that accompany any professional drug or alcohol intervention process. Intervention is a serious undertaking and it is imperative that it be done effectively, safely, and with confidentiality. No intervention should be undertaken without the advice and council of an experienced, trained and certified professional interventionist, preferably one who is knowledgeable in the treatment center and approach or treatment methodology that has been chosen for the drug rehabilitation or alcohol rehab of the drug addict.