Addiction will not only affect the life of an addict, but also those around them. Alcohol and drug addiction can break families, leaving lives in wrecks.
You might be having someone battling drug or alcohol addiction, and you don’t know how to help. In most cases, talking to the victim might not provide excellent results. That is because the majority of people suffering from addiction are still in denial about their addiction state. In that case, doing an intervention for a person strolling with drug or alcohol abuse is the best solution. It will help the victim to transition into the treatment procedure safely and swiftly. Before you stage the intervention, make sure you invite a doctor to help you through the process. Also, have non-attacking letters to your loved ones, and have a treatment plan in case the victim refuses to get help.
Importance of intervention
- Assists the victim to realize that alcohol and drugs have become a life-threatening threat
- Identifies addition or abuse as a medical disorder
- Offers an alternative for instant treatment
- Determines what will be affected in a relationship, at work, at home if the victim refuses to be helped
Timing
Addiction can be a life-threatening event to the individual battling with alcohol or drug dependence and the family as well. But, what is the perfect time to perform an intervention to increase the chances of getting the required results?
The ideal time to stage an intervention is determined by:
- The capability of the participants to come together for the intervention
- When the victim is sober and available
- When it’s evident that the victim’s life is in danger
- Let’s look at the signs; it’s time for an intervention.
- The victim’s destructive behavior subjects his or her family at risk
People struggling with addiction encounter challenges related to taking care of their families. In most cases, they engage in vicious habits, like passing out and overdosing. They might also endanger other family members by driving under the influence or using drugs in the presence of kids.
Once you start to see an increased incidence of failure to make informed decisions about their health or your own, it’s the right time for an intervention. In most cases, drug or alcohol abuse will escalate before getting better.
Failure to tell the truth
Where they spend their free time is a secret to you, and you don’t know the substance they are using. Once you realize that your loved one is trying to dodge the truth, ensure you understand why. Addiction tends to create a physical and chemical dependency that makes it hard to make the right decisions. However, your loved one realizes they are doing something wrong by using the substance. Drug or alcohol abuse triggers lies that build upon each other and worsens over time.
The use of substance becomes uncontrollable
The consumption of drugs or alcohol will increase as the abuse of these substances worsens. You might various signs of a controlled level of consumption like:
- Making stopover to get a drink on when going home from work and coming home late
- Using the drugs in the morning
- The urge to look for more drugs since what they have is not enough
Typically, those with addiction find themselves creating tolerance faster. That means they want drugs with more intense effects to get a similar feeling.
They act or look sick
Those with addiction problems strive to make it a secret. While some might think they are successful, they will feel horrible most of the time and look sick. You might realize they don’t wear clean or wrinkle-free clothes anymore. They will also look pale and appear to have lost a lot of weight.
Remember that you might notice mental health changes like being east to anger or avoiding other family members. That withdrawn personality is a symptom of addiction, indicating that they need help.
The financial hardship is worsening
Maintaining a substance abuse condition is a costly affair. You might be struggling to balance your cost and finding it hard to make ends meet. The victim might go to work, and your revenue might be the same, but his or her bank account is always dry. You might also realize that your loved one is finding it hard to maintain a job. This will result in financial hardships like having their assets repossessed. Your loved one might also be lending money frequently and promising to pay back, but defaulting later on.
Final word
Before you decide to stage an intervention meeting, make sure you have a plan. You need to understand what issues you need to address and rehearse saying them without any anger. Being accusatory and raising your voice towards the addiction treatment victim will push them away. You can invite an interventionist in the event the situation worsens. Make sure there is a treatment plan such that the victim will be admitted right after the intervention.
