Frequently Asked Questions
Q: We’ve confronted, argued, threatened and tried to reason but our intervention didn’t work, what are we doing wrong?
A: If the addict is in any set up for a power struggle, they will most likely win! We’ve learned to avoid personal opinions, to give advice or to shame them for their behaviors. A quality intervention is firm, but loving. The single focus of a united family usually results in delivering the loved one to treatment. A good interventionist removes the focus that is on the addict and places it on the group. Together, we inform them that the family is concerned about their using and is united in urging treatment for the addict. By then the interventionist has removed all the hurdles. His bags are already packed. Nothing is said that would open the door to a power struggle. Most thank us when they have a taste of sobriety.
Q: What if our loved one tells us they don’t need treatment?
A: The family spokesman, along with the interventionist
communicates the fact that people with drug abuse are the last to know
they have a problem. They explain that the family would not choose to
encourage treatment unless they truly believe that drugs are causing a
growing problem in their life. Rather than assessing the addict or
seeking his own assessment, we explain that the family is strongly
requesting they get a professional assessment and that, if they don’t
have a problem they will be informed.