Are you worried about a loved one’s substance abuse? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, nearly half of Americans have a close friend or family member struggling with addiction.
Fortunately, there are options available, and there’s a lot you can do to get them the help they need. Let’s talk about how to stage an intervention for the best results.
A successful intervention can’t happen today, but time is still of the essence. Here’s how to plan ahead for an intervention.
First, be careful when drafting your invite list. Anybody who may be counterproductive to the cause should stay away from the intervention, even if it hurts their feelings. This isn’t about them.
For example, if somebody’s presence may make your loved one uncomfortable, cause unnecessary tension, or doesn’t have their best interest at heart, they don’t belong in that setting. Only invite people who will encourage and support your loved one to make the changes they need.
We advise strict messaging guidelines from you and everybody else who attends the intervention. The point of an intervention is not to unnecessarily make your loved one feel guilty without offering support or treatment options. The point is to get them the help they need.
For this reason, we strongly suggest reviewing others’ messages before the intervention takes place to ensure that you are all on the same page.
Having treatment options available to provide to your loved one is an essential part of an intervention. Otherwise, what’s the end goal? We recommend having an ideal treatment plan, especially an inpatient program, followed by a few backup options in case they aren’t ready.
Moreover, it’s also important to have a backup plan in case your loved one rejects the intervention altogether. For example, if there is unintended escalation and your loved one lashes out in anger and storms off, the response of all parties should be to remain calm, use de-escalation techniques, and not pursue them if they are angry. Think through these possible outcomes and discuss your response with everybody involved ahead of time.
When the time comes, you need to be prepared. If you’ve done all of your planning, here’s how to stage an intervention for the best results!
Timing is everything in an intervention. For example, if your loved one is usually sober and at home at 10 am, this is your perfect window.
The best time to host an intervention is when everybody can be there together in a comfortable, familiar environment when your loved one is sober and clear-headed. This is different for everyone, so plan ahead for this. If these times are sporadic, make sure everyone is on-call and ready to go when your loved one is ready.
The point of preparing your message ahead of time is to ensure that we do no harm. Use these prepared messages and don’t go off-script. Practice ahead of time to ensure that everyone uses a calm tone and demeanor.
Start by asking your loved one to sit down. Calmly, begin reading your prepared statements one by one. If they ask questions or express confusion or anger, calmly reassure them that you only want to talk to them, and continue with your prepared statements. Everyone should stay on-script the entire time.
Once everybody has read their statements and concerns, listen to what your loved one has to say. They may express their anxieties about their condition, treatment, lack of perceived support, or their current living situation. You can’t reassure them if you don’t understand their concerns.
If your loved one is ready for an inpatient program, have them pack their things and bring them right away. The longer they wait, the longer they have to change their mind.
However, if they aren’t ready for inpatient treatment, offer them a partial hospitalization program or intensive outpatient program. “Going it alone” is not an option, and outpatient programs leave too many opportunities for relapse.
Still, any treatment is better than no treatment at all. If they accept some type of outpatient program, ask if they’ll agree to pursue an inpatient program if this first attempt doesn’t meet their needs.
Lastly, if they have no intention of pursuing treatment and react negatively to the suggestion (or to the intervention as a whole) give them space for now. As long as everybody said what they had to say, the seed is already planted. Pursuing them may only push them further away from treatment and may lead to self-medicating or other dangerous situations. They may come around on their own!
Assure your loved one that they will have support during and after treatment, and follow through as much as possible. This could be as simple as using code words in uncomfortable situations, or it could involve adjusting living situations temporarily after treatment. Whatever support you are willing to offer, reassure them of it!
Now that you know how to stage an intervention, why wait? The longer your loved one goes without treatment, the longer they remain in danger.
There are always treatment options available to anyone who needs them. So, stay up to date with our latest recovery tips, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or to verify your loved one’s insurance!