How to Plan an Intervention for an Alcoholic
You’ll be able to provide support in a healthy and constructive way. When planning to stage an intervention, it’s essential to speak with a professional first. Intervention specialists are trained to successfully guide families through the process. They will also provide advice on how to seek help for the individual you are trying to get into treatment.
For instance, a family member’s drug abuse, a traumatic event, or a dysfunctional household dynamic can all lead to alcohol addiction. This means that family can play just as significant a role in causing and worsening an addiction as they can while they offer support. Many healthcare professionals may not feel confident, however, in their ability to intervene effectively with patients who drink too much. Here, we provide background on alcohol brief intervention and a 7-step model for patient care. To help with follow-up, we provide links to other Core articles, resources, and an interactive, simplified sample workflow.
What does a model brief intervention look like? Seven steps for patient care
Additionally, it is often recommended to conduct an intervention in the presence of a counselor or specialist if your loved one has a history of extreme mood swings or violence. If the conversation begins to take a turn for the worse, a professional will be able to mitigate the situation and keep everyone safe. Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.
SMART Recovery – Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) is a program that aims to achieve abstinence through self-directed change. Women for Sobriety – Organization dedicated to helping women overcome addictions. Al-Anon and how to do an intervention for an alcoholic Alateen – Support groups for friends and families of problem drinkers. BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more.
Do Support, Don’t Enable
It is important that as you try to help your loved one, you find a way to take care of yourself as well. It may help to seek support from others, including friends, family, community, and support groups. If you are developing your own symptoms of depression or anxiety, think about seeking professional help for yourself.
It doesn’t reach a certain level and remain there for very long; it continues to get worse until the person with an alcohol problem seeks help. When someone with alcohol dependency promises they will never drink again but a short time later are back to drinking as much as always, it is easy to take the broken promises and lies personally. You may think, « If they really love me, they wouldn’t lie to me. » This flexibility makes it a suitable choice for those dealing with milder addiction issues. Or for individuals who have already completed an inpatient program, giving them a smoother transition toward recovery. If you’re having a tough time helping someone you care about seek treatment, read on.
Provide Information About Alcohol Treatment
The intervention itself may set off additional behavior problems that can complicate the relationship between the addicted person and the intervention team members. Each member of the intervention team will speak during the intervention. This is meant to help the addict understand the concerns and feelings these team members have with regard to the addict’s health and their own well-being.
