Intervention can be the first solid step towards recovery from addiction. Intervention can – literally – save lives. As a social problem and a public health problem, the effects of addiction are far-reaching. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) points out that addiction touches every socioeconomic group, from the very wealthy to the very poor, costing the nation $484 billion annually. Left untreated, addiction not only can destroy the individual and fundamentally damage families, but it also rips at the very fabric of our society.

According to a February 2010 report, Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population, prepared by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, fully 65 percent of those incarcerated fit the medical definition of addiction. NIDA reports that 31 percent of the homeless are addicted to drugs or alcohol. The effects can be generational, if the cycle of addiction is uninterrupted. After all, inmates and addicts do have children, and those children often end up in the foster care system, all too frequently as a precursor to their own eventual adult incarceration and/or addiction. According to Robert Kenneth White and Deborah George Wright in their 1998 book, titled Addiction Intervention: Strategies to Motivate Treatment-Seeking Behavior, “intervention can represent the single most important event in an addicted person’s life.”

The Power Lies In Its Structure

White and Wright describe intervention as being a “process of constructive confrontation.” That apt description contains the key element of a successful intervention. The confrontation must be constructive and in order to be constructive, it has got to be controlled. Control is maintained by structure, which is why the Mayo Clinic emphasizes planning so strongly, offering a step-by-step guide to the intervention process.

Addiction affects not only the user but also those around him, and can do so deeply and painfully. Emotions run high but intervention success is not gained by letting hurt and anger get the upper hand, resulting in venting, blaming and wounding instead of caring, constructive, goal-oriented communication. Keeping the end goal in sight – the addict deciding to obtain treatment – is so essential yet so difficult in some circumstances. That is why the Mayo Clinic suggests actually writing out a script for the intervention during the planning phases. Here are ways to help an intervention be constructive:

• Become educated about the problem and its solutions. Learn about the substance and its physical and mental effects. Try to ascertain the degree of use and level of addiction the user is facing. Learn about treatment methods and available treatment centers so that solid solutions can be offered.
• Regular planning and rehearsal meetings should precede the actual intervention. This should be a unified effort, without any single part becoming overly emotional or out of control. Plan and practice what each person will say. Role0play and prepare for potential responses of the user.
• Establish and stick to specific ramifications for the user deciding not to get treatment. Refusal of addiction treatment may, for example, result in family and friends no longer lending money or housing the substance user.
• Follow through on efforts. Intervention is a process that doesn’t end with the initial intervention itself. Be active in supporting change, such as helping with transportation to rehab support groups or in helping to fill time that used to be spent using with other, more productive and healthy activities. Learn about how to help avoid relapse and how to deal with it if it should occur.

Safety First

Depending on the individual, the substance that is being abused and the degree of addiction, there could be safety concerns with an intervention. For example, it may not be safe for a wife to confront her alcoholic husband, even with the support of friends and family, if he tends to be verbally or physically abusive when under the influence. The situation could spin dangerously out of control. In some cases, the only safe intervention is one guided by an experienced professional. These are some situations that may require help from an intervention specialist:

• A family and friends intervention may not be safe if the user typically reacts angrily to the mere suggestion that there may be a problem or that his behavior has a negative impact on the lives of those around him.
• If the user has been experiencing deep depression or has spoken of suicide, it may be best to involve a professional.
• At least speak with an intervention specialist if there are multiple substances being abused, resulting in periodic emotional instability.
• Make an honest assessment of the person the user is now, not based on who the person is when not using, and if there is a chance that confronting the substance abuse issue could result in a violent reaction, seek professional assistance.

As anyone living with an addict knows, things are bad enough without compounding the problems. If physical safety is a concern for those living with or intimately involved with the addict, intervention is best done with experienced, professional help. Read more about what do after an intervention at Inpatient Addiction Recovery.