Staging an intervention for a loved one or friend can be very stressful and present many challenges.
Many times, people know they want to do something but feel helpless and confused about how they can help.
An intervention can be just what an addict needs to get them on the road to recovery.
While there is no sure way to know if your intervention will achieve your desired results, using every tool available to prepare will increase the chances you will have a successful intervention and begin to make a difference in the addicts life.
Here are five tips that you can use to guide you through this very difficult event.
Focusing your intervention efforts in on well-defined goals will help you prepare and also keep your group focused during the intervention.
Simply confronting someone and telling them you do not like their behavior is usually not enough to change the path of an addict.
You need to research treatment options before you begin an intervention so that you can give your friend or family member options and take immediate action if they agree to the terms you lay out during the intervention.
You can even make all the arrangements so that if they agree to enter treatment it can start that very day.
Having multiple people at an intervention is important.
An addict will need to see that multiple people who truly care about them are concerned for their well-being.
The people you choose to include in the intervention should be very close friends, family members, and anyone you think the addict may listen too.
It is important to ensure that you do not include people who have been enabling the addict in any way in the intervention because they could undermine the group's efforts.
You may also want to consider the temperament of the people whom you invite to take part.
Yelling and accusing the addict will not help in any way.
Just as important as who you invite is the place and time you plan the intervention.
Try to choose a time when the addict will not be distracted by other things.
If they are still working a job, make sure you do not stop them when they are on their way to work however, sometimes the early in the day the better.
Many addicts, especially alcoholics start drinking mid-morning so if you can catch them before that time you may have the opportunity to talk to them when they are sober.
Having the intervention in a private location is also important.
This is a private matter that should not take place in a restaurant.
Keep the tone of the intervention as calm as possible.
Start by describing how you have been feeling when you have encountered the warning signs that have led you to believe the intervention is necessary.
Having a few people express what they have experienced will open up the dialogue instead of making the addict feel attacked or ganged up on.
The best way to achieve all of these goals is to plan ahead.
Talk with everyone involved about what should be said and who is going to say what.
Have the event organized complete with all the information about treatment centers and other help available with you for the intervention.
Sometimes planning a mock intervention before the actual day and running through how it will go will help everyone feel more comfortable and remain calm when the time comes.