DRUGS ADDICTION INTERVENTION A NEW WAY TO TREAT DRUG ADDICTS

Addictions have become frequent in the United States after the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Statistics already estimated that more than 21 million people suffer from different addictions. Only 10% of them received any treatment for their cravings. So, how can you save someone from ruining their lives with an addiction? It’s believed that medications, detoxification, and therapy/counseling may help addicts regain sobriety. But how do you convince someone to pursue these treatment options in the first place? Luckily, there’s another method to rescue an addict, i.e., addiction intervention. We have explained this process along with its benefits for your know-how. So, learn how to intervene. 

How to stage an intervention?

An average person is more influenced by the suggestions from their friends/family than online reviews. Therefore, it shouldn’t appear surprising if an addicts’ relatives intervene to stop them from abusing drugs. Experts have defined an intervention as a “structured meeting” to convince someone you love to seek treatment for their cravings. The portrayal of interventions in movies/dramas doesn’t deviate much from reality. These meetings involved people gathering at a prearranged destination and reading written statements to explain how that person’s actions have hurt them. The subject is then implored to recover from their cravings and regain sobriety. It’s a collaborative undertaking to treat addicts today.

Why are interventions necessary? Many addicts don’t realize they have a problem or refuse to admit the existence of addiction. They’re adamant about rejecting any notion of being alcoholics, thereby refusing to get treated. Therefore, interventions are necessary to commence treatment. Also, you can read more about intervention options to make this endeavor more successful. For instance, ensure a professional addiction counselor is present in the gathering to guide the conversation. Don’t forget the importance of careful planning to facilitate the intervention. So, how do you prepare to intervene? We’ve discussed the process of intervening here, for your knowledge. Here’s how you can assemble intervention properly:

1. Collect information: What sort of rehab center do you desire the subject to attend? Collect the required information about nearby treatment facilities, so you have enough options to present before the subject. You can visit that rehab center before convincing the subject to join.
2. Make a plan: Don’t arrange an intervention without consulting addiction counselors. You must also carefully consider every stage of this procedure before intervening. Don’t forget that an intervention may cause the subject to undergo different emotions (such as betrayal).
3. Create a team: Nominate the individuals to participate in this intervention. This team should contain the people trusted by the subject. Now, they should present a clearcut, consistent, and rehearsed message. Ensure the subject doesn’t realize what you’re up to before you intervene.
4. Write notes: Ask everyone to write down what they will say to the subject. We call such writings “influence statements” that describe how that person’s addictive behavior hurt you. So, you should remain honest emotionally without including any “personal attacks.” Remember that our goal is to help.
5. Rehearse properly: It’s crucial to rehearse every aspect of the intervention. People often blame the subject or self-pity instead of helping the addict. Now, you don’t want emotional meltdowns to make the intervention meaningless. Therefore, we suggest you rehearse the assembly. Make sure people know the goal.
6. Consider the reaction: Addicts feel betrayed or ambushed by their friends/family at first when intervention happens. But you will slowly make them realize the problem. So, prepare for angry responses and violent reactions. Determine your response accordingly. For instance, you can ask them to move out of the house.
7. Manage expectations: Many television-influenced people assume that interventions easily convince a person to change. However, the subject doesn’t readily accept there’s a problem. So, they may refuse to overcome the addiction or turn against the participants. So, manage expectations and stay ready for violent outbursts.
8. Follow up: In the end, you shouldn’t stop contributing whether the subject accepts help or not. That’s why we suggest you uphold those statements made during the intervention. Stay to what you promised, and it may motivate the subject to overcome their cravings. That’s how you must intervene and convince addicts to receive treatment. For instance, if you are suffering from opioid addiction, it is best to get help from this online MAT clinic if you want to be treated at the comfort of your own home.

How do interventions help addicts recover?

So, how does an intervention help addicts? We’ve explained how regular people are more influenced by their friends/family than computer-based advertisements. Successful interventions require careful planning and thorough consideration. You should prepare for the subject to get mad at the very idea of them being an addict! However, 90% of properly-planned interventions are successful, studies revealed. These studies have further explained how people with friends/family are more likely to complete treatment and maintain long-term sobriety. How do interventions succeed in making an addict realize the problem? We’ve stated some benefits of addiction intervention to help you stage it today:

1. Interventions allow the family to collaborate and display harmony to encourage the addict to recover.
2. Everyone present in the gathering gets the chance to express their thoughts/feelings about how the subject’s addiction hurt them.
3. The interventionist asks everyone certain questions to demonstrate how everyone’s concerned about the subject’s well-being due to addiction.
4. Everyone is informed about the addiction. A consensus is built in favor of treatment, preventing the subject from denying their addiction.
5. Unfortunately, addicts may convince everyone in the family that everything’s okay. However, an intervention allows people to approach the subject as a collective, thus not allowing them to dupe anyone.
6. Some addicts need this push to help you recover from their cravings. Possibly, the subject wants their family members to intervene. These interventions have helped many addicts get treatment and give up their previous addiction.

Conclusion

Different households are plagued by addiction today, studies reveal. A 2017 survey has shown that 46% of American families have cherished friends or family members with addictions. Now, how can you help your friends/family suffering from these cravings? We have explained how addiction intervention successfully convinces addicts to seek treatment. You should gather some information and review rehab centers for the subject. Create a team to participate in the intervention and write down what you will say beforehand. Rehearse your speeches and make your case without blaming. So, you may now convince the subject to admit the problem and receive treatment for their addictions.