How to Host a Productive Drug Intervention


In our article on the dangers of drug Interventions, we explain why they can be damaging. Below are some guidelines on how to find the best intervention process to effectively admit an alcoholic or drug addict into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program that will end their addiction cycle.

1. The best interventions are based on the fact that denial cannot be encountered with confrontation. Powerful research in psychotherapy proves that confrontation does not work to overcome the addict or alcoholic’s resistance to stop using and gain recovery. Actually, it makes their resistance stronger. Therefore, a skillful interventionist will not guide the concerned people participating in an intervention to attack or confront the addict or alcoholic. Instead, they would deliver a simple and compassionate sharing of facts — including the information that they no longer want to be a part of the addict’s or alcoholic’s life if they continue to use — and an offer to support their efforts to stop using. This offer needs to include admittance into an addiction, alcohol, and mental health rehab treatment center that would follow the intervention.

2. The best interventions promote personal investment in treatment, as it is the main indicator of the success of that treatment. Strong research in psychology shows very clearly that the success of addiction and alcohol treatment is determined by the degree to which a professional interventionist, counselor, or therapist can engage the person receiving treatment into becoming invested in their treatment and therapy.

3. The best interventions try to minimize the amount of loss of trust that results from the need to lure an alcoholic or addict into the intervention meeting under false pretenses. As mentioned before, this can affect the success of the treatment that needs to follow the intervention. Organizing the intervention behind the alcoholic’s or addict’s back will produce negative feelings of resentment, anxiety, and depression that could threaten their future success in treatment. A great deal of skill is therefore demanded from the interventionist leading the meeting to not only organize the intervention well, but also repair the loss of trust that will result from it. This loss of trust presents a major obstacle to the success of treatment, and an obstacle to motivate the addict and alcoholic to not only stop the use of drugs, but also to attain physical and mental fitness.

The above information is designed to help people who suffer the effects of a loved one’s illness of addiction, to assist them in finding help when it has been decided that an intervention is necessary. Many people have adopted the title of “interventionist.” Great care is necessary in choosing the right person for this huge task. Please use the information above and question anyone that you are considering to use as an interventionist about their philosophy, style, and knowledge of the listed facts. If their answers are vague, general, or unsatisfactory, please seek help somewhere else.

Interventions can either bring a person the help that they need to heal or destroy their chance to receive this assistance. In the wrong hands, interventions can be very dangerous.