Interventions

This is when an intervention may be essential.

We’re looking at indicators that an intervention is needed, as well as steps you can take to make sure your intervention is built on the most solid foundation. We hope you can deliver the outside support your loved one is crying out for, whether they admit it or not.

What is an intervention?

An intervention is a structured conversation between a group of loved ones and a person who is battling with some form of addiction. It’s a dedicated and conscious effort to help a loved one understand the reality of their situation, as they may be too intoxicated to understand the risk they are in. It’s planned out by close family and friends, and may also utilise addiction help from a professional “interventionist.”

At its core, an intervention is an act of deep care. It functions not to blame or shame, but to give a loved one the addiction help they need. The greater the degree of care that is placed in an intervention, the better the results. Carried out properly, an intervention becomes the turning point when a person realises that their addiction isn’t just affecting them: it is hurting the people they love, too.

The greatest challenges in interventions

The word “intervention” undoubtedly carries a certain amount of gravitas. We may have seen interventions carried out in movies or TV shows, and they always seem to be fraught with challenges.

An intervention is emotionally draining, as it can feel like the moment you need to force your loved one into making a positive change. You may feel that you are carrying out an action on behalf of your loved one, which feels upsetting. Remember: if the love wasn’t there in the first place, then you or your loved ones may have turned your back on the person who needs help a long time ago. Keep your love going.

Knowing when an intervention is needed may be the cornerstone you need for getting your loved one out of the vice grip of substance addiction.

How can I be certain an intervention is needed?

If someone dear to you has been battling a drug, behavioural or alcohol addiction for a long time, you have undoubtedly been through multiple moments of emotional pain, quietly wondering whether your loved one will ever be able to escape. For example, you might join them on a night out for a few drinks, which at first is a night filled with laughter and enjoyment. Yet you know they will continue drinking long after you’ve called it a night and headed home, and you don’t know what to do about it.

Knowing when casual substance use or drinking requires intervention is not always easy, but there may be indicators for the first step. Signs and symptoms include:

What are the steps to help plan an intervention?

If you’ve carefully weighed up the indicators that an intervention is needed, you are probably wondering what the best steps are to create an effective intervention. Please remember that an intervention may be very unique to the family or group dynamic that creates it.

These are the steps you can take to ensure your intervention stands on firm ground:

• Start with your loved ones: Make sure you bring together the loved ones who are immediately affected by the person’s addiction. Family and trusted friends should be your first port of call, and remember that each person should voice their feelings in the intervention.
• Decide if professional help is essential: You may be considering employing the help of an interventionist. If the addiction is very severe, then professional help may improve your chances of positive change. Decide as a group if this is the route you wish to take.
• Choose a neutral setting: The location of an intervention plays a crucial part in its success. As a group, choose a place that is calm, neutral and non-threatening. Avoid interventions in the person’s house, as they may be inclined to seek isolation in their own room, and will feel intruded upon if you follow them.
• Carry out your intervention with care: Once other steps are followed, carry out your intervention with care. Ask your loved one to join the intervention site. Make sure every person has a chance to speak, without interruption. It can help to go around in a circle for each person’s input. While empathy and care are essential, nobody should feel too afraid to speak aloud what is in their heart. Try to stick to facts and avoid raising your voice when you feel heated.
• End with your boundaries and the “next step”: Finally, your intervention needs to end with actionable steps and boundaries that will have consequences if crossed. It will be beneficial if you have contact details for rehab as soon as the intervention ends. It is up to you which boundaries to create, and whether your loved one must speak to a treatment provider or not.

What should come after staging an intervention?

Not all interventions are successful. There will always be the chance that your loved one will outright refuse or will pretend to agree just to be left alone. Leave space for this possibility, and remember that your intervention may have planted the seed today, which flourishes tomorrow.

If they decide to accept your help, a challenging but rewarding journey has begun. Make sure your support stays resolute, and commit yourself to helping their positive transformation. You may have instigated a life change, which heals them and gently carries them to a brighter, healthier tomorrow.

Where can I get help for a loved one struggling with addiction?

If you’re considering an intervention, it means you’ve already taken a brave and compassionate step toward change. It’s never easy to confront someone you love, but doing so may be the very thing that saves your relationship with them, or saves their life entirely.

At Oasis Bradford, we’re here to support you every step of the way – and can offer effective rehab treatment that is the ideal next step from your initial intervention. You don’t have to do this alone. Reach out to Oasis Bradford today. Your call may be the life-saving turning point your loved one needs and deserves.