How to Stage an Intervention
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Watching a loved one deal with addiction can be difficult, and you may feel helpless. You may have tried speaking to your friend or family member about their alcohol or drug problem but had no success.
In this instance, an intervention may be a good way to deal with alcohol and drug dependence. An intervention is an event that is typically hosted by friends or family members of a person struggling with addiction, with the key goal of encouraging the person to either address their addiction or seek addiction treatment.
But how do you stage an intervention, and what should you consider when hosting an intervention for drug or alcohol addiction? That’s what we’ll be exploring in this blog. Read on to find out how to stage an intervention.
Why Stage an Intervention for Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol can be a dangerous substance, especially when abused. Not only can alcohol increase the risk of developing certain cancers (for example, breast cancer), but The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that alcohol was the top drug involved in drug-related emergency hospital admissions, with 41.70% of drug-related emergency room visits were linked to alcohol consumption.
Drug addiction and alcohol addiction can quickly take over a person’s life, affecting their finances, career, relationships, and their physical and mental health.
An intervention can be a great way to get the person to come to terms with their addiction and begin their recovery journey. Interventions are generally effective for those who are unable or unwilling to accept the severity of their addiction. It can open up a line of communication in a warm and friendly environment, without anger or confrontation.
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Step-by-Step Guide to Staging a Successful Intervention
The intervention process can vary from person to person, however, it typically involves a lot of planning and research in order to get it right. Read on for our helpful guide on how you can stage an intervention, from the planning stage to the final stage.
Plan Ahead
First of all, be sure to plan ahead. You should decide which day and time you’ll be hosting the intervention, and ensure that the person with the addiction is available on the day before you begin inviting people to attend.
You should also consider the location. Some people will liaise with intervention specialists to help plan the intervention. Naturally, the location should be an alcohol and drug-free zone, and
Create an itinerary for the intervention with a list of the day’s events, including a guest list and an outline of who will be speaking.
Decide Who Is Going To Attend
Interventions can be intimidating environments if there are too many people, so be selective with who you choose to invite. We recommend only inviting close friends and family members so the person doesn’t feel attacked or overwhelmed.
Choosing the right people can ensure a supportive environment, and can increase the chances of the intervention being successful. Most people will invite between four and six people to be a part of the intervention team. Some will also choose to invite a professional interventionist to provide professional support throughout the process.
Prepare What You’ll Say
Before you host the intervention, you should have an idea of what you’re going to say. Some people will prepare a speech or a personal statement, whereas others will just make a list of bullet points of topics to cover. If you feel comfortable, you could improvise and speak from the heart but have an idea of what you plan to discuss.
This is the time that you discuss how the addiction has affected the person – without placing blame or judgement. You may also discuss how the addiction has impacted relationships with family and friends, and speak from the heart. Your speech should be open and honest – there is no space for judgement or anger in these statements.
Discuss The Alcohol or Drug Addiction
Although interventions may predominately consist of the attendees discussing the person’s addiction, it’s important to make room for open discussion too. Interventions shouldn’t be a one-way conversation – it should involve a lot of talking and listening on both sides.
Now is the time to discuss the person’s substance abuse problem – how you think they are being impacted by addiction, and how their addiction may be impacting you too. This is also the time for the subject of the intervention to speak. Encourage them to open up and talk about their story without putting on too much pressure.
Encourage The Person To Seek Treatment
Typically, the end goal of an intervention is for the addicted person to address their addiction and accept treatment.
This can involve a rehab plan, completing a drug detox or alcohol detox, or receiving therapy. Many people choose to attend family therapy sessions to repair damaged relationships once they have begun their recovery journey.
At Help4Addiction, we can discuss your treatment options in order to find the right treatment plan for you and your addiction. We can connect you with drug and alcohol clinics around England and Wales, finding the right place for you and your circumstances, requirements and preferences.
Rehab typically involves therapy. Therapy can not only treat mild and serious mental illness but treat addiction too. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), family therapy, group therapy, and counselling are all common forms of therapy in addiction rehab.
Contact us today to begin your recovery journey, or to find out how we can help your loved one overcome their addiction.
Tips for Staging an Intervention
Staging an intervention can be challenging, even when you have the process planned out from start to finish. This is why we are here to give you some helpful tips on how you can stage a successful intervention, from educating yourself on addiction to setting your expectations.
Learn About Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Before planning your intervention, it’s important that you conduct some research. Staging an intervention without having enough information about drug addiction and alcohol addiction can have negative consequences, and can result in you causing more harm than good.
For example, many people have the false belief that it is somebody’s fault that they became addicted to a substance, and may express anger and resentment.
This can be harmful – and although it’s natural to feel frustrated when somebody you love is dealing with an addiction, it’s important to remain mindful and understanding when staging an intervention.
Be sure to learn about addiction, including the causes and risk factors for addiction, how addiction impacts people, and what to expect from the recovery process. Addiction is both a physical and mental illness and can impact a person in many ways. It’s important to understand the effects that alcohol abuse and drug abuse can have on a person, physically and mentally.
Set Your Expectations
Watching an intervention on television or in movies can give you a false idea of what interventions actually look like. Not all interventions are smooth sailing, and not all interventions end with the person addressing their problem and seeking treatment for alcohol or drug abuse.
In many cases, it can take several attempts to get the person to admit they have a problem or to seek treatment. Even an intervention that has been planned perfectly can go wrong – the person may refuse help for a wide range of reasons.
For example, they may be in denial, or feel shameful or embarrassed about their addiction – and not accept treatment.
It can be difficult to watch a loved one struggle with addiction, but an intervention can help the person address their problem and begin their road to recovery.
About Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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