Knowing what to say during an intervention and how to convey it
For years, families have reached out to us asking the common question: “What do we say during an intervention?” The best practice is to have a professional guide provide the proper intervention during this process. When family members perform a dependent intervention, it is best to follow some basic guidelines. The sensitive nature of a drug addiction requires the ability to keep the focus on how much you care and want the addicted person to get better.
If you plan to perform an intervention on your own, consider the following points.
- The goal of an intervention is for the person with an addiction to accept further help, such as outpatient or inpatient drug rehab. Substance abuse is a coping mechanism for something deeper that the person is experiencing
- . Non-confrontational communication
Key points to keep in mind during an intervention
The more you can prepare for a drug intervention, the more likely you are to succeed in getting that individual to accept the help you are offering.
- Prepare a script prior to which also allows you to stay on topic
- tone of voice and body language mean as much or more than the words conveyed
- Make sure they know that you love them and care about their health and well-being
- Rationally and lovingly explain your concerns about how their addiction is affecting them, and you
- Make sure you have researched possible post-intervention options, such as detox, drug rehab programs,and outpatient addiction counselling
- Be prepared for resistance to your statements and concerns
- Be firm in implementing a solution, have your boundaries firmly set and keep them
Things that can hinder an addiction intervention
There are so many things that can go wrong during an intervention, especially if you are not trained in the intervention process. This can be a highly volatile situation at times, so knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to do.
- Blaming and being defensive will end an intervention, usually immediately
- not having proper information ready to convey in a meaningful way
- being stuck in the problems instead of addressing the solutions
- emotional reactions to the addicted person’s responses
- attacking the individual
- Being lenient with the individuals objection
- tryingperformrfom intervention when the person is heavily intoxicated or already angry and defensive
It has been our experience that family-led interventions do not turn out well. This is not for lack of care or trying. This is usually because even though the family has done some research, their own history with the addicted person trickles into the intervention process, causing people to act on emotions. Thus, a trained addiction specialist is always the better way to approach a loved one suffering from substance abuse. That being said, we encourage you to educate yourself about interventions and not to give up hope. Feel free to contact us for a free consultation on how to approach diction and speak with trained interventionists.