What's an Intervention?

An intervention is the action taken by family, friends, employer and/or concerned others to actively assist someone to change unacceptable behavior. The problem areas that a drug intervention typically addresses are addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs, nicotine, food, the Internet, sex, spending/shopping, and gambling; the need for nursing home or medical care; domestic violence issues; and chronic pain with addiction.

Why use a drug intervention?

It was once believed that an individual struggling with addiction or resisting changing unhealthy behaviors had to sincerely want help to get help. The individual had to "hit bottom" before being motivated to change. This, of course, is not always true.

No person can easily survive without support from someone close to him/her. Interventions are based on this fact. A person will continue to live his/her life of active addiction or an unhealthy behavior when friends and family offer inappropriate support. This type of support typically allows the addiction or behavior to continue. In most cases, family and friends feel that they are protecting the individual, but in fact, they are creating an unhealthy support system for the person.

The intervention process addresses the unhealthy support system that allows the addiction to progress. Addiction breeds secrecy and isolation, both for the individual and for those who care about him/her. The intervention process brings together family, friends and other concerned persons and creates a support network for each member. The support network in turn engages and empowers the individual to grow and change in a positive way.

Who can be involved in a drug intervention?

The support network for an intervention is comprised of family, friends and others with a caring, significant relationship to the individual. All members of the support network must agree to empower the individual to make change, not shame or humiliate him/her because of addiction or unhealthy behavior.