When to Intervene: A Pretreatment Intervention and Various Drug and Alcohol Intervention Methods |
When to Intervene? For some individuals, compulsion takes over their life. Compulsory and addictive behavioral problems such as drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling addiction, eating disorders, etc., can become extremely pervasive in a person’s everyday life. What may begin as a one-time thing, can quickly transform into a full-blown addiction that threatens the safety and well-being of an individuals life. When it reaches a certain point, an intervention may be the solution. Pretreatment Intervention A pretreatment intervention refers to the intervention and the processes that take place before the individual enters treatment. A pretreatment intervention can take on many forms. In some cases, it may be a brief intervention, such as a conversation between two people, while in others it may be more serious and require professional facilitation. Whatever form it takes, the ultimate goal is to encourage the individual into treatment. It is likely that the individual displaying signs of addictive and compulsory behavior is in a state of denial. They may be reluctant and it will take a great deal of support and encouragement from those who care about him or her. For this reason, it is extremely important for everyone who will be present at the intervention to be prepared. Working with an interventionist will make the entire process more structured, which will increase the likelihood of a successful intervention. Drug and Alcohol Intervention Methods Another beneficial component of working with a professional drug and alcohol interventionist is that they can highlight and explain various drug and alcohol intervention methods. There is no cookie cutter approach to an intervention—every individual is different, therefore every intervention will be different. Understanding the pros and cons of certain approaches is extremely advantageous and can help family and friends construct an appropriate plan of action.
