4 Apr 2013

At Narconon Suncoast, we often help people whose friends or family staged an intervention.  

We wanted to discuss here what an intervention is, and give a general overview of how a person can approach someone who they are concerned may be addicted to drugs or alcohol.

What is an intervention?

Prescription Medication Additction

An intervention is meant to increase a person’s knowledge and change their attitude while creating a supportive environment and providing them with resources.  An intervention is a caring act, done by people or even one person who wants to help an addict come to an understanding of their addiction and give them options to help them off the drugs or alcohol.  More than anything, an intervention – done correctly – gives the addict a core support group which they know will help them through this difficult time, and who they can trust.

Before you plan to approach a person about their drug addiction, you first must determine why you believe they are addicted.  We have gone over signs of addiction to both drugs and alcohol in past posts.  Just to do a quick overview, here are some of the more obvious signs of addiction:

  • You see them using the drug chronically.
  • Changes in sleeping and eating habits.
  • No longer enjoys doing things they used to. Their life is focused on the drug of choice.
  • Stealing in order to obtain money to buy the drug.
  • Extreme changes in behavior and mood.
  • Losing their job due to behavior changes or distancing themselves from friends and family they used to be close to.
  • Sudden weight loss or gain.
  • Shaky hands, feet, or head.
  • Track marks on skin.
  • Deterioration in personal grooming.
  • Paranoia.

Those are just some of the signs.  You can find more in our articles linked above.

If you believe a person is exhibiting the signs above, it may be time to approach them about their drug habit.  This can be a very tough experience for a person who is close to the addict – as the addict can behave in an irrational manner when they are discovered.  Their behavior is often due to the affects the drug has had on them emotionally.

Talking to an Addict

Here are five steps to take when planning an intervention:

  1. Research the rehab that would work best for the addict.  Make sure to contact the potential rehabs and talk with them regarding their program, how the program is run, program costs, etc.  You can also ask the rehabilitation center if they can recommend help with the intervention.
  2. Create a plan.  Are you going to get a core group together to talk to your friend or family member, or are you going to go about this alone?  When would be the best time to do this?  How do you want to open the conversation?  What points about their addiction most concern you?  Are you worried about their health, their emotional well-being, their job loss?  Which of the points that concern you would be most impacting to them? These are some points to consider.
  3. Make sure they are not drunk or high before you begin talking with them.  While a person can seem more tractable under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it’s better to talk to them when they are not on them.  They may be harder to talk to because they are craving the drug, or because they are more depressed than they would be on the drug, but you want to have this conversation with a real person – not a drugged out haze.
  4. Show them you care.  Let them know what you have observed, allow them to speak, and then let them know why their behavior concerns you.   While you have a point to make, the point of this process is their own self-discovery.  They need to realize they have a problem.
  5. Find out what they consider are their best options.  If they don’t know, show them the information you have found about rehabs.  Don’t shove it down their throat that they have to go.

 A final note on this, people addicted to drugs or alcohol are often dehydrated, ill-fed, tired, and generally irritated.  If at all possible, try to prep them by feeding and hydrating them as much as they will allow before the intervention conversation begins.

If you currently have someone in your life who you believe may be an addict – and you need help right now, go ahead and call us immediately for help.  You can contact us at (877) 850-7355. 

NARCONON SUNCOAST

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION