The Need for Intervention is Vital in Rehabilitation

Why is Family Intervention Necessary?

Family involvement plays a big role in addressing drinking problems. Family members should partake in dealing with addiction not only because it is the right move; and/or it is the kindest and most loving thing to do to any person suffering from addiction but it is also a beneficial and rewarding accomplishment on the part of the helping parties.

Intervention is needed if an addicted person is (1) unaware of his condition, (2) denying there is a problem and (3) aware but doesn't have the ability to fight the problem. On the other hand, family involvement has the goals of (1) laying the problems upfront without being too confrontational, (2) providing the patient the support he needs; and (3) encouraging the person to undergo treatment or rehabilitation.

In a recent study, 82% percent of alcoholics choose to be treated and decide to be rehabilitated because of family support and intervention. And about 90% of these patients benefited from the recovery process.

Family Intervention Can Break the Denying Stage of Addiction

The majorities of people suffering from alcohol addiction usually do not have the power to admit they have a problem, or are oblivious of the fact that they need help to address any existing problem. The reason for these is simple yet dangerous - they are blinded with the dependency to alcohol which undeniably controls their emotions and their ways of thinking. They believe that they have the total control over everything, and that everything falls exactly on the right path. Normally, this denial period takes place at the earlier stage of addiction and is common to people who have drinking problems, especially those individuals who are considered as functioning alcoholics. Who would have thought about having problem if one can function normally for his everyday tasks? This is one of the reasons why intervention is necessary – to remove the blindfold of the person and to present him the reality.

Denying can also be true to people who have chronic condition. They are denying the addiction because they “need” to believe that “they need” the “addiction” to cope up with everyday life. People who are into this dilemma will continue to drink uncontrollably and abuse the substance regularly. They cannot think for themselves and they cannot correct their mistakes by themselves. In this condition, intervention is very important – to save the victim from the drowning effects of alcohol addiction.

Denying there is a problem is the most general symptom of any kind of addiction. A person is susceptible to deny his addiction because of several reasons, but the most widespread grounds are (1) the lack of awareness of the destruction the addiction is bringing into his life and to the lives of the people around him and; (2) ignoring the condition and disregarding the reality that there are problems that require solutions. In number 1, he may be in the state of “unconsciousness”, that is, he may be seeing that alcohol is the only way to cope up with life, which in turn, encourages him to believe that drinking alcohol is the solution, not the problem. In number 2, he senses that there are issues and concerns need to be addressed but is ignoring them because alcohol dependency has the complete control of the wheel.

People with addiction will eventually turn into self-destructive individuals that the need for family intervention should take place immediately.

An addictive substance, which is in this case - alcohol, has the power to manipulate one’s thoughts and actions, leading a person to believe that he can stop drinking anytime. It creates an imaginary perspective, sort of an “illusion” that addiction is far from happening. This perception typically worsens any kind of condition due to the fact that the person will continue drinking until the first signs of damage appear. In most cases, some people do crazy things and commit negative decisions which they believe are appropriate for the time being. Intervention can show a complete understanding of the addiction problem. Once the alcoholic realizes that addiction is a disease that can ruin his life, encouraging him to undergo medical treatment and rehabilitation will be a walk in the park.

Tips for an Effective Intervention

Intervention should be planned ahead of time. This is a serious and delicate process and should be implemented properly. If done in the correct manner and right time, family intervention has the ability to pull the patient out of addiction and bring him closer to recovery.

Planning the Intervention Approach

Each family is different and intervention plan is crucial. Family members should plan out and talk about the correct approach. Laying out plans and recognizing which approach is suitable for the addicted family member can help out in the implementation of the actual intervention. Remember that addiction is a chronic and developmental disease. The longer the intervention taking place, the stronger the addiction will be and the harder it will be to manage.

Intervention should be done as soon as possible. Immediate intervention will not only prevent further damages but will also result in an outstanding recovery.

Slowly but Surely

The actual discussion with the involved person is also tricky. Most addicted individuals deny their addiction problems and they refuse to accept any form of help. In this situation, family members and helping parties should lay all the cards on the table in order for the patient to fully understand the situation. Take note that this process should be done gradually – to give the involved individual the time to react and allow him to adjust on the situation.

Solution Not Confrontation

Avoid being too confrontational. Intervention should have the goal of encouraging the addicted person to come out of the closet and seek professional help. It should not be offensive and provoking. The person must realize there are problem and that the family involvement can help him to resolve that problem. The intervention process must educate the person about the negative effects of addiction and that there are ways to eliminate these negative consequences, not blaming him for that matter. He must realize that he has family and friends willing to lend a hand in order for him to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Family intervention should be the starting point of the rehabilitation and treatment recovery process. Family members should be riveted to their role of helping their loved one win over the drinking problems. In most cases, family issues and domestic problems are common causes of drinking problems. This is why family members should be the first to act and to react.