Many people experiencing drug addiction will also experience denial about the existence of that addiction. In this section of the website, we explain how an intervention is able to assist people who may be experiencing denial about their addiction.

Many people suffering from an addiction to drugs are unable or unwilling to accept that a problem accepts. This generally describes the situation when an intervention may be beneficial. An intervention aims to help people in this situation access the true gravity of the situation and then accept that professional help is indeed necessary.

How effective are interventions?

Interventions can be incredibly effective when you attempt to convince your loved one to the extent of his or her drug problem. Equally, interventions may actually cause more harm than good. This is particularly the case when an intervention is poorly handled.

The success of the intervention also depends upon the traits of the person being intervened upon. Some people will simply not embrace an intention no matter how professionally that intervention is handled. This may be the case when the person is new to the idea of living life in recovery.

Generally, it takes an enormous amount of strength to begin living life in recovery. No matter how advanced and effective a particular treatment may be, it is ultimately up to the individual experiencing the addiction to actually get and then remain sober.

Types of intervention

Essentially, there exist two types of intervention. The first type of intervention is non-confrontational in nature. This explains the situation when the subject of the intervention does not know the intervention is going to take place. The intervention is essentially a surprise to the person who will benefit from the intervention.

The second type of intervention is invitational in nature. This is when the subject of the intervention is informed that the process is going ahead before it actually does. This variety of intervention typically proceeds at a much slower rate compared to the non-confrontational approach described above.

Which approach should I adopt?

Now you know the two types of interventions, you may wonder which of the two you should adopt for your loved one. The answer to this question is that it depends on the personality type of your loved one. You must anticipate how your loved one will respond to either approach, and then select the approach you feel will render the best results.

When should I consider an intervention?

It’s best to seek out the services of an interventionist before your loved one hits ‘rock bottom’. In fact, it’s best to help your loved one at the earliest possible opportunity. If you wait too long, your loved one’s addiction will continue to deteriorate. This is because addiction is a progressive disorder.

How to find an interventionist

When you select an interventionist, it’s important you select somebody who has significant experience in treating people for drug addiction. Do not select a co-worker, family member or friend when conducting an intervention. To do so could make the situation even worse.

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