How to Stage an Intervention for an Addicted Loved One

Millions of people struggle with addiction each year. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million people had a substance use disorder in 2022.

It is likely that you know at least one person who suffers from substance abuse. You might even have a close friend or loved one who is currently battling addiction. Sometimes, watching someone you love deal with drug and alcohol abuse leaves you wondering how you can help.

If you are wondering how to help your addicted loved one, it might be time to consider an intervention. Staging an intervention can be a difficult process, making it important that you seek professional help. Hosting one involves creating an intervention team, drafting a plan, educating yourself on how addiction works, writing impact statements, and having addiction treatment lined up.

Signs That Your Loved One Needs an Intervention

Addiction interventions are typically used as a last resort. If your loved one continues to suffer from drug abuse while refusing help, an intervention might be the right move. Being aware of the signs that someone needs an intervention can help you determine what your next steps should be.

Signs that indicate your loved one needs an intervention include:

• Your loved one is in denial about their addiction
• Their substance abuse is leading to risky behavior and putting their life on the line
• Your loved one continues to refuse treatment despite needing it desperately
• They continue to lie to you about their substance abuse or whereabouts
• Their health is deteriorating because of their drug or alcohol abuse
• Your loved one continues to abuse larger amounts of substances
• They have experienced relapses or overdoses that create concern for their wellbeing
• You are at a point where you cannot take it anymore and change needs to happen

If you have been dealing with your loved one’s addiction for some time and they continue to refuse help, an intervention might be necessary. Sometimes, hearing how their addiction has impacted their family can be the push they need to accept treatment.

How to Host an Intervention for Your Addicted Loved One

Hosting an intervention is no easy task. Not only does it require you to have sensitive conversations with your loved one, but tons of planning is necessary. Having a professional interventionist is vital to ensure the success of your intervention.

Staging an intervention for your addicted loved one involves the following steps:

Get Professional Help

Interventions are delicate processes. You will have to sit down with your addicted loved one and emotionally appeal to them in hopes of convincing them to attend treatment. Tons of planning and expertise are necessary to do this successfully.

Hiring a professional interventionist will ensure you receive the support and advice you need to be successful. While there is no guarantee your loved one will accept treatment, it is much more likely you will have a positive outcome with professional help.

Since intervention specialists have working relationships with treatment programs, they can help you set up treatment options for your loved one. They also make sure that the intervention is carefully planned, determine what type of intervention is necessary, and support the whole family throughout the intervention process.

Create the Intervention Team

The intervention team will include family members and close friends of your addicted loved one. You should always carefully select who is involved based on your loved one’s needs. Professional interventionists will help you determine who is right for the job.

Members of the intervention team will read an impact statement to your addicted loved one, asking them to seek treatment for their substance abuse. Since sensitive topics will be addressed, the people involved in the intervention should be close to your loved one.

Draft a Plan

Once the intervention team is created, you will begin working with the intervention specialist to create a plan. This involves scheduling a day and time for the intervention, location, and guest list. The professional interventionist will help you analyze your loved one’s habits to determine the best time, date, and location based on when your loved one is the most present or mentally alert.

Your plan will also include details about the intervention itself. For example, you should be deciding who will read their statement first, what topics should be avoided, and more. All of this planning is done to ensure the intervention runs smoothly.

Educate Yourself

You should educate yourself on the disease of addiction before you begin an intervention. Understanding how substance use disorders affect a person’s life can make it easier for you to discuss your loved one’s addiction with them. Additionally, if they have any mental health disorders, you should educate yourself on how to best navigate their emotions or symptoms.

Write Impact Statements

Next, you should begin writing your impact statements that will be read during the intervention meeting. Each person involved in the intervention must have a statement to read. These statements must be carefully drafted to ensure all of the language is encouraging, and compassionate while avoiding offensive statements.

Your intervention specialist can help you draft these letters, carefully reading each one to make sure they are worded with empathy in mind. As a result, there will be less of a chance that your loved one will feel attacked or become defensive during the intervention.

Create Boundaries and Expectations

Before you hold an intervention, you need to make sure you have boundaries in mind. Unfortunately, there is a chance that your loved one will refuse treatment. In case this happens, you should have a set of rules they have to follow to keep them accountable.

For example, you could choose to stop financially supporting your loved one if they do not attend rehab. It is also common to state that they are not allowed in your home until they seek treatment. The boundaries you set should be there to help you stay emotionally healthy while enforcing a rule that encourages your loved one to seek help.

It is also important to manage your expectations. Since there is no guarantee that your loved one will attend a treatment facility, you must prepare yourself for that outcome emotionally. Your loved one’s recovery process might involve a few relapses before they are ready to accept help.

Get Connected to a Professional Interventionist and Drug Rehab Program

If your loved one suffers from addiction but continues to avoid rehab, it might be time for an intervention. At New You Sober Living, we can assist you in hosting a professional intervention. While there is never a guarantee that an intervention will be successful, our intervention specialists will do everything they can to help your loved one.

Additionally, we will set up a treatment plan for your loved one that begins immediately after the intervention ends. As a result, your loved one will not have enough time to change their mind when they agree to treatment.

Contact us today to learn more about how an intervention works and why New You Sober Living is the right choice.