These days, it’s an unfortunate truth that many unhealthy substances are readily available. Soon enough, that access can turn into a serious substance abuse problem.
At some point along the way, it’s common for friends and family members to notice certain behaviors. These indicators mean that it’s probably time for someone to stage an intervention. Otherwise, those unhealthy behaviors will continue to worsen.
After all, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that every day, more than 115 people in the United States die by overdosing on opioids. This doesn’t even include the other dangerous side effects of opioids and other addictive substances.
If you know someone who struggles with substance abuse of any kind, don’t underestimate the situation. If you care about him or her, you’ll want to see the best outcome – which is kicking that addiction. If you want to learn how to stage an intervention, continue reading.
Why It’s Important To Have an Intervention At All
At the end of the day, you care about the person you’re considering for an intervention. Your top priority is that they turn around their behavior to make the most of all that this life as to offer them. Not only do they deserve the best in the world, but they also risk serious danger with addiction.
If you’re uncertain about holding an intervention, perhaps you should continue to do your research. You and everyone involved all need to understand the dangers at hand.
You know that drug or alcohol abuse can seriously affect mental wellness in anyone. There are also a variety of physical health concerns at risk, too.
There’s simply no reason for you to put it off any longer. It’s time for you and everyone else who should be involved to stage that intervention. Otherwise, the lives of the addict and yourselves won’t be improving any time soon.
When It’s Time To Intervene
You might be wondering whether your loved one is actually addicted. Maybe you know they are addicted, but you think it won’t last too long to be a real concern.
If you’re intervening for a teenager in your family, consider this study done by the United States Department of Health & Human Services. It reports that in the state of California, 17% of high school students reported drinking alcohol before they even turned thirteen.
Don’t be fooled if you aren’t completely certain substance abuse is at hand. At least be willing and unafraid to ask questions.
When you notice addictive behaviors, you need to deal with them as soon as possible. (That doesn’t mean you should rush into an intervention without proper planning, though.)
At first, this person might be showing less serious side effects of using an addictive substance. Maybe they just have headaches every once in a while. Soon enough, though, the more serious side effects are going to have a negative effect on their – and your – daily life.
When your loved one starts being more secretive than usual, it’s okay to wonder why. This is true, in particular, when they also start borrowing – or even – stealing money on a regular basis. You can use your imagination to figure out what they’re likely doing with that money.
Over time, their behavior might worsen. They might have serious mood swings, difficulty eating, or even hallucinations. If they’re having trouble sleeping, eating, or even just spending time with others, it’s time to do your research.
Staging an intervention is about noticing unhealthy behaviors and preventing even worse ones. It’s important to plan the intervention well, though, in order to succeed in helping your loved one turn his or her life around.
Gather Information and Plan Ahead
After all, it’s unlikely that you’ll be staging this intervention all on your own. Interventions are commonly held by more than one family member close to the addict, for example. (In fact, it might even be a good idea to look into professional intervention specialists who can manage it successfully.)
No matter who you decide should be present, it’s important that there’s a sensible script. You and everyone involved need to know who’s going to say what and when. That means you need to take the time to determine exactly what needs to be said.
Let your loved one know that serious damage to their life is at risk if they don’t change their ways. At the same time, though, the intervention should be handled as delicately as possible.
Stay Calm and Manage Your Expectations
It’s important that you’re sensible when you decide who else should be present during the intervention. Everyone on this team needs to be able to remain calm and collected throughout the entire discussion.
This addict is going through some tremendous mental uneasiness. He or she might feel attacked if anyone intervening got emotional and yelled, for instance.
It’s important that you all expect to stay in control of any anxieties. That way, the entire atmosphere in the room during the intervention will stay as peaceful as it can.
Rehearse!
The last thing you need to remember when staging an intervention is the importance of practicing. You and everyone involved need to rehearse the script you’ve decided upon. If you need to, seek professional advice to ensure the intervention is successful for everyone involved.
Seek Professional Guidance on How To Stage an Intervention
At this point, you might not feel quite comfortable staging an intervention on your own yet. The good news is that there are professional, experienced services available to you. It’s up to you, though, to stay committed to the intervention that can save your loved one’s life.
Perhaps you’d feel more comfortable with this professional guidance. If so, you’ve come to the right place by reading this article. We’re here to help you and your loved ones along the entire recovery from addiction.
We know how important it is to have the best recovery and treatment options available. If you’re ready to start this process, we encourage you to contact us. For more guidance on how to stage an intervention, feel free to call us today.