Drug and Alcohol Interventionist

There is nothing quite as terrible for the family of an alcoholic or drug addict than being unable to talk to that person about his or her problem. The addict has shut them out, convinced himself he has no problem, or managed, in his mind, to make them the problem. Hints and warnings become nagging which too often leads to quarrels or even violence. Denial is the fortress of all addicts, and knocking down the walls is not easy.

Intervention to convince an addict to seek help takes courage, patience, and determination. It must be done in a manner that produces a positive resolve to face up to the problem, rather than more sullen withdrawal and anger. Often this is beyond families trapped in the problem; they are too close to it, nursing too much anger of their own. In these cases, it is usually helpful to enlist the services of an interventionist, a professional trained to confront and convince without aggravating the problem.

Many drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment centers offer intervention services, and keep trained interventionists on staff. These people are experienced in dealing with addicts; they are able to sort out a family feud from an actual drug or alcohol problem, and are able to offer clear, fact-based reasons for an addict to seek help. They are neutral third parties in this family war, negotiators, advocates for both sides. Their goal is to break through the walls of denial in a calm, non-threatening manner. Intervention is not about kidnapping an addict and whisking her away to a rehab center; it is about forcing her to see her problem in a new light and getting her to seek help on her own.

An interventionist can be anyone: a priest, a doctor, even a family friend the addict respects, but the most successful interventions are often those conducted by this neutral outsider, an expert armed with experience and an intimate knowledge of addiction and the effect it has on the human body. He knows the causes and symptoms, how many drinks it takes to qualify as a heavy drinker, how many pills it takes to pass the boundaries of acceptable use. He or she knows how to keep the meeting conversational, non-threatening, informational. She is there to educate as well as persuade, to make the addict see that his or her behavior is no longer either rational or normal, and that it is taking a terrible toll on all concerned.

Successful interventions result in the addict agreeing to seek help. The best outcome is neither sullen nor surrender, but active agreement that yes, there is a problem, and yes, something must be done. That “something” is a recovery program, not the addict moving out or otherwise fleeing the situation. If you have reached the point of non-communication with your addict, it may be time to call in a professional.