Having a loved one who is suffering from addiction is heartbreaking, scary, and lonely. If you are living through it, you know that it can seem like a never ending journey of worry. You wait for the day when you find out your loved one is in jail, injured, or worse: dead.
One of the most frustrating parts about having a loved one in that position is what you can do. As they are over the age of 18, they have to be the ones to seek out help. You cannot force them to get the help that you can see they need so badly. One of the best things you CAN do to help is to hold a drug intervention. There are a number of things you can do ahead of time to set up for success.
Setting Up for a Drug Intervention
A drug intervention isn’t something you should rush and try to do one hour after you decide to do it. It takes premeditation and structure in order to make it work. The first step, obviously, is to decide that you are going to hold one. Plan for it as if it is your one chance to get through to your addicted loved one, because it may just be that. Be committed and follow these steps for optimal success.
Figure out who you want there. It is important to have the right people at your drug intervention. You want to make sure everyone you invite is there for your loved one’s best interest, and not just there for the drama or to create a scene. No one who is excessively emotional should be present because keeping a level head is key. Make sure that the people you choose to invite have the common interest of helping your loved one so that together you can aim for success.
Pick the right setting. If the addicted individual feels attacked, they will immediately put up a wall and be less receptive to anything you say to them. So, think about where to hold the intervention. Neutral ground is best, and avoid places where there has been a lot of chaos and arguing so that the energy from those times doesn’t infiltrate your intervention.
Planning for a Drug Intervention
Write down what you are going to do and say. It is very important to have a plan. During an intervention, it can get difficult to stay on track no matter how emotionally stable you are, your emotions may get the better of you. You don’t need to write everything out word for word, but at least have some bullet points of things you want to make sure you cover while you are speaking.
Hold a practice run. To make things go smoothly, you want to make sure everyone involved is on the same page. Which person will be the one to start the intervention? Who will speak at what time? Even where each intervention member sits is important. This will make the actual drug intervention less chaotic and more organized. This way, you can also make sure that everyone is getting right to the important points. Coming together as a team will unite your group and make sure you are all working together.
Have a plan for treatment. This is one of the most important things that people overlook very often. The ultimate goal of the intervention is to get your loved one into treatment, right? So if they agree, you need to seize that opportunity and get them into a treatment center as soon as possible. This is much easier if you do your research beforehand. This way, you can present ideas that may work for their particular situation immediately. If they agree and if you have done the setup work, you may even be able to get them into treatment the same day.
Planning your Loved One’s Drug Intervention
A drug intervention needs planning. It is important to have a plan for what is going to happen afterward, no matter what the outcome is. You can also enlist the help of professionals to guide you through the process if you wish. Always remember that the addict is not behaving as themselves, but rather as the drug that has taken over their mind. With the right tools, you can get them the help they so desperately need and into one of many drug treatment programs.
