Undeniably, alcoholism and drug addiction not only affects the suffering individual; but it also seriously damages those people closest to them, particularly their family members and friends. Addiction is a serious chronic disease. More often than not it is the family members that are left trying to desperately stop the downward spiral of a dependence on alcohol or drugs. Family members have often decided to make a plea for help and appeal for change in what commonly referred to as an intervention.
 
The word “intervention” in an alcohol and drug treatment context is used to describe a meeting in which a person with an alcohol dependence or drug addiction problem is confronted by friends and family members in a final plea for help with their addiction. The intervention is an organized meeting coordinated by family members in conjunction with friends, significant others, mental health professionals, pastors, or a drug treatment provider.

The participants gather to discuss their loved one and the impact of the disease in what is also known as a pre-intervention meeting. The purpose of the intervention gathering is not only to develop a plan for obtaining help for alcoholism or drug addiction, but also to offer support to the addict.  Participants go around the room and share statements of the numerous ways in which family alcoholism or drug addiction has affected their lives.

An intervention can set the stage for awareness about the seriousness of alcoholism or drug addiction and the negative impact on everyone involved. It is important to realize that alcoholics and addicts may be defensive and resistant to help. For this reason, mental health professionals and treatment providers can assist in counseling the individual. An intervention can also provide the much needed structure and resources for getting help.

You are not alone we can help! If you or a loved one needs help we urge you to please call Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles now 800-996-1051 or contact us here.


Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

For families and friends of alcoholics and drug addicts, there comes a time when all hope seems to be lost and exhaustion sets in. Parents get tired of the lies, spouses get tired of missing funds, and friends get tired of broken promises to get together. Mainly, they eventually get tired of watching their loved one slowly wither away by the use of alcohol, cocaine, heroin, prescription or other drugs.

When the atmosphere surrounding an alcoholic or addict becomes this negative, desperate measures are justified. Interventions are effective at this point, and will succeed in either getting a loved one into treatment or relieving friends and family members of emotional pain.

Initially, it seems cruel to place people in a situation where they offer their loved one an ultimatum to seek alcohol or drug detox and treatment, or to be cut off. It is important to note that the underlying theme of an intervention is loving confrontation. This confrontation could save the alcoholic's or drug addict's life, which is the most loving act a person can perform.

Interventions can still be successful even when they don't result in alcohol or drug detox and treatment. Loved ones are prepared for the possibility of a rejection of their ultimatum. While the goal is alcohol or drug treatment, interventions can release loved ones from the emotional prison they've been confined to.

Alcoholism and drug addiction transforms people physically and as deeply as their core values. They are entirely different people to family and friends. Still, loved ones make futile efforts to maintain a relationship with someone who is no longer available. The emotional tie is as strong, if not stronger, for the substance-altered loved one.

After countless pleas to quit, promises that it will happen, and a continuing downward spiral, families and friends begin to blame themselves. The act of loving confrontation can empower them to return to a life that does not depend on the well-being of someone else. And, at the very least, cause enough of a shock to their loved one that causes a brief emergence of the "true self".

What happens after the intervention is entirely up to the individuals involved. The substance dependent have choices to return to normal lives or continue with self-destructive behavior alone. Loved ones have the chance to regain control of their lives whether the substance dependent seeks treatment or not. In either case, it can be said thatintervention was a success.

 

It can be said that intervention works 100% of the time, when conducted properly. An intervention is a process where loved ones gather to motivate an alcoholic or drug addict into treatment. It is usually the tool of last resort when families and friends feel hopeless and all efforts to fix the problem have been exhausted. The process yields healing for the loved ones, and, if alcohol or drug addiction treatment is accepted, a life saved.

Intervention work begins long before an alcoholic or drug addict is confronted in a controlled setting. With the help of a professional interventionist, loved ones are prepared emotionally for the big day. Intervention participants gather with the professional in a group session to begin the healing process. Shared feelings help lead the group toward their primary purpose of helping the alcoholic or drug addicts into detox and treatment, or emotionally releasing the individual.

Meanwhile, the subject individual of the intervention is kept unaware of the plan. The element of surprise is very important. When alcoholism or drug addiction has reached a point where intervention is needed, it is likely that person has become delusional and lost touch with reality. Suggesting a chat about entering alcohol or drug treatment would be met with a defensive response.

Walking into a room occupied by calm and prepared loved ones is a shock that is necessary to the alcoholic/addict's psyche. The sudden dose of reality puts focus on what is happening here and now. Loving confrontation is the next step.

Interventions occur every day in the United States. They are unpredictable by nature, but always bring one of two results: Either the alcoholic or addict agrees to go to treatment immediately, or there is a loving good-bye. For the loved ones, either conclusion brings emotional relief. So it really does work 100% when conducted properly.