Watching someone you know and love struggle through addiction can be a heartbreaking experience, especially if you’ve tried almost everything you can to help them break free.
Reasoning, pleading, and even enabling to maintain some semblance of normalcy can leave those in addiction and those around them feeling hopeless.
When these approaches fail and you feel like you’re running out of options, choosing to stage an intervention might be the moment that saves someone’s life.
The decision to have an intervention comes from a place of love, but the process can feel overwhelming, particularly if the individual is deep in their addiction.
Fortunately, a proper intervention isn’t about attacking or ambushing someone and forcing them to take an action. An adequate intervention is a structured, loving confrontation that breaks through denial and offers a clear path forward.
When done correctly, an intervention can be one of the most powerful gifts you can give someone trapped in the cycle of addiction. So, how does an intervention work – and how can you ensure you’re following the proper steps to help someone break free?
What Is an Intervention?
You may have heard about or even seen an intervention done – likely on television (reality television is known to have brought this topic to the forefront). But what exactly is an intervention?
An intervention is a carefully planned process. In an intervention, family and friends gather to address a loved one’s addiction in a direct way that is both compassionate and direct.
In an intervention process, individuals express how substance use has affected everyone involved, and together, those who put on the intervention appeal for their loved one to seek proper treatment.
But here’s the critical thing about interventions: The primary goal isn’t to cure addiction on the spot.
Instead, this moment acts as a breakthrough to help those trapped in an addiction cycle take the next right step toward recovery.
Why an Intervention is Often the Turning Point
Many people struggling with addiction find themselves stuck in a web of enabling behaviors.
Empty threats and emotional chaos continue as the addiction takes hold, and families can often feel lost as to how to step in and stop the cycle.
An intervention cuts through this dysfunction by presenting a clear, unified message: the addiction is harming everyone, and the family will no longer enable the behavior. But immediate treatment is both available and necessary.
The power of an intervention lies in its structure and the fact that it often represents the first time someone hears honest, unfiltered feedback about how their addiction affects others.
How to Plan an Intervention
An intervention should never be done on the spot or without careful planning and partnership with a trained professional.
While each case is unique, and you should always work with an addiction counselor or specialist when planning, here are some typical steps in planning an intervention.
Step 1: Assemble the Right Team
You’ll want to choose your intervention participants carefully. These may include those who have a deeper relationship with your loved one and have the ability (and willingness) to speak honestly about how the addiction has affected them.
Intervention members often include immediate family members, close friends, colleagues, or mentors. Think about those whose opinions matter to the person struggling with addiction.
It’s best to avoid including anyone who is currently using substances, as well as those who may not be able to control their emotions in heated moments.
This includes younger children who may not understand the situation. At the same time, it may be tempting to show how one’s addiction is impacting younger family members, it can be a traumatic experience for those unable to understand the situation.
Step 2: Consult a Professional if Possible
Interventions should never be attempted alone. Bringing in a professional interventionist or addiction specialist can add expertise in managing the process.
They can help you plan the approach, coach participants on what to say, manage the actual intervention process, and immediately facilitate treatment placement if your loved one agrees to get help.
Step 3: Choose the Right Time and Setting
Timing is key for interventions to be successful.
Try to plan an intervention when your loved one is most likely to be sober and in a relatively stable mood. Avoid any times when they may be intoxicated or going through withdrawal.
You’ll want to choose a comfortable, private setting where you won’t be interrupted to hold the intervention. This is often someone’s home – a place of comfort where the individual won’t feel trapped or ambushed.
Step 4: Prepare What to Say in Advance
What do you say in an intervention? Honesty is the best policy.
Each participant should prepare a personal statement that focuses on specific examples of how the addiction has affected them and expresses their love and concern.
When it comes to how you speak in the moment, try to use “I” statements rather than accusations: “I felt scared when you drove home intoxicated” rather than “You’re becoming a drunk driver – you could have killed someone!”
Keep your statements factual and specific. Focus on behavior rather than character attacks, and share examples of any concerning incidents. Share how those moments made you feel.
Most importantly, practice these beforehand to avoid stumbling through your statement in the heat of the moment.
Step 5: Set Clear Boundaries and Consequences
As the intervention goes on, be ready to communicate the specific consequences that will occur if your loved one refuses treatment. Most importantly, be ready to follow through.
The consequences could include ending any financial support that once enabled them to continue in their addiction, as well as no longer allowing them in your home. They may seem harsh, but it’s important to remember (and communicate) that these are natural boundaries to protect yourself and others.
Before the intervention, ensure you have a specific treatment plan ready to present immediately.
Research potential treatment options before the intervention, and consult with professional treatment centers to learn about insurance coverage or payment arrangements. This will help you be prepared to make a move should the individual decide to proceed with your offer of help.
Conducting the Intervention
Once you’ve prepared, it’s time to schedule, communicate the plan to those involved, and prepare for the intervention itself.
Start the intervention calmly and with love, and explain clearly that everyone is there because they care.
Have one person facilitate the conversation who can keep the intervention focused and on track. Each participant will then read their prepared statement and share their feelings, willing to give the moment the time it requires.
As the intervention progresses, expect to encounter some resistance, denial, anger, or attempts to leave. These are normal responses, and it’s important to stay calm and avoid arguing.
Always redirect the conversation back to the central message: their addiction is causing serious problems, you love them, and you want to help them get better through treatment.
Ensure that you present the treatment option clearly and early in the conversation. But don’t give them time to think it over or negotiate – remember that addiction thrives on delay and rationalization.
What Should You Do After the Intervention?
If They Say Yes to Treatment
If your loved one agrees to treatment, it’s essential to act immediately. This means having transportation arranged, necessary bags packed, and admission paperwork for any treatment facility ready.
Don’t give time for the individual to change their mind or try to negotiate different terms. Support them through the admission process and stay involved in their treatment through family therapy and support programs that help heal relationships damaged by addiction.
If They Say No – What Now?
If they refuse treatment, which is often the case in many interventions, make sure and follow through on the consequences you’ve outlined.
You can continue to offer support for treatment, but it’s important to maintain boundaries and consider setting up follow-up interventions if circumstances change over time.
But never give up hope. Many individuals require multiple interventions before they finally accept the help they need.
How Genesis House Can Help
At Genesis House, we understand that interventions can be emotionally challenging for families. That’s why we’re here to offer guidance and resources for all aspects of addiction and recovery.
Our team can help you plan an effective intervention for drug addiction, as well as provide professional facilitation and a smooth transition into our comprehensive treatment programs.
We offer a full range of addiction treatment programs built to address the many aspects of addiction, and our family-centered approach includes ongoing support and education for long-term recovery.
If someone you love is struggling with addiction, you don’t have to handle it alone. Genesis House can guide you through the intervention process and provide a clear path toward recovery.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you take this crucial step toward saving your loved one’s life!
