Most families think of an intervention as someone coming out to the home and inspiring their loved one to change or “talk them” into treatment. Other families are led to believe that there is nothing that can be done unless their loved one wants help or hits bottom. Although there is some truth to both of these thoughts, there is far more involvement than just talking your loved one into treatment and certainly thinking you have to wait for your loved one to hit bottom or ask for help is not a healthy option nor is the answer. The most difficult part for an interventionist is to get the family on the same page as to help hold their loved one accountable. Obtaining willingness from an addict or alcoholic is far easier than getting the family to gather for the intervention and agree to the process. When most people hear that, that don’t believe it, but it is true. Trying to get 5 or more people to agree on change after everything they have been taught about addiction has been bad information taught to them by the addict or alcoholic, is far more difficult than getting 1 person to accept help and go to treatment.
As you read through this information you will see, and you probably already know, that the addict or alcoholic has made their life more comfortable at the expense of the family and others. The intervention process helps families get back control in a loving non-confrontational way and by raising the bottom so that their loved one becomes more comfortable with the option of treatment. Over time, addicts and alcoholics teach families guilt, that everything is the families fault as well as fear that if the family attempts an intervention or makes them go to treatment they will run away, never talk to them again or even threaten suicide. In addition they teach families hope that one day they might meet that right person or get that right job or they will figure something out and they will get better. Lastly, families are taught by the addict or alcoholic that they are victims and if the family had the problems the addict or alcoholic had the family would drink or drug too. The common denominator is that the substance abuser can’t get drunk or high on their own and the family has more control than they are led to believe.