Supporting loved ones in addiction recovery can take many forms. Sometimes, getting a friend or family member to accept help is the biggest hurdle. When someone continues to depend on substances, even when their life is at risk, many families consider staging an intervention. 

However, successful interventions are carefully planned events that most people don’t have the experience to accomplish on their own. A professional interventionist helps families learn effective intervention communication and plan an intervention to increase the chances that their loved one will get the life-saving help they need. 

What Role Does an Interventionist Play?

Professional interventionists play a pivotal role in addiction recovery assistance. Interventionists are mental health professionals with experience in the field of substance use disorders. They may work for an insurance-approved rehab center that is prepared to admit the individual to their program. 

Not all interventionists work with a specific treatment facility, but part of their job is to help arrange placement in a program that best meets the person’s medical and mental health needs. 

Experts estimate that around 59.3 million people over the age of 12 have misused prescription drugs or used illegal drugs in the past year. The same source estimates that over 25% of all people who try illicit drugs develop a substance use disorder. Unfortunately, many people who need treatment don’t get it. 

Effective family intervention strategies can make a difference in whether a person accepts help or not. An interventionist uses their knowledge to help families plan an intervention that stays positive, stays on topic, and benefits everyone involved. 

Some of the intervention planning steps an interventionist is responsible for include:

• Locating the best treatment options
• Help with assembling the most effective intervention team
• Organizing the format, including where, when, and how to get the loved one to attend
• Assisting team members with effective intervention communication
• Assisting team members with deciding on appropriate boundaries
• Pre-confirming insurance verification to a treatment center
• Making travel arrangements to rehab and traveling to the center with the individual

The goal of an interventionist goes beyond convincing a person to enter rehab. Interventionists care about the health and well-being of the entire family and can provide resources for an in-person or online support group, mental health treatment, and addiction recovery care for loved ones who may also be struggling with substance or alcohol use disorders.

5 Signs It’s Time for Addiction Recovery Assistance

Watching someone you love struggle with addiction can be heartbreaking, frightening, and, at times, frustrating. You have no doubt tried everything you can think of to help, including some enabling behaviors. 

There’s no such thing as the “exact right time” for an intervention, but most families decide to take this step when they feel they’ve run out of all other options. 

1. Your Loved One’s Life Is in Danger

It’s fair to say that anyone with a substance use disorder is risking their life. However, the longer and more severe an addiction disorder is, the higher the risk of developing serious health complications or experiencing a fatal overdose. 

If your loved one is exhibiting risky or self-destructive behaviors, has already experienced at least one overdose, or is ignoring serious health issues, it may be time to take intervention planning steps. 

2. Their Drinking or Drug Use Is Out of Control

With time, it takes larger and more frequent doses of drugs or alcohol to create the desired effect. This leads people with addiction use disorders to lose control over their habits. They may drink at work or while caring for their children. Using drugs or drinking first thing in the morning may become a normal way for them to start their day. 

When a person spends the majority of their time either finding, using, or recovering from substances, their behavior is out of control.

“Addiction is a disease that leads people to do things they would otherwise never dream of doing.”

3. You No Longer Trust Them

Addiction is a disease that leads people to do things they would otherwise never dream of doing. Lying, stealing, and manipulating family members to help get the substances they want destroys relationships and can create lasting trust issues. 

When dishonesty becomes a habit, and you feel you can no longer trust anything your loved one says, an addiction intervention may persuade them to enter recovery. 

4. Their Physical and Mental Health Is Deteriorating

Do you suspect your loved one’s addiction is affecting their mental health? Addiction can lead to cognitive problems that affect a person’s memory and other brain functions. 

As addiction intensifies, you may notice changes in the person’s physical appearance. Poor health is not only directly related to substance use, but it’s also the result of poor nutrition, a lack of medical care, and, in some cases, homelessness. 

Many people begin to withdraw from friends and family when their disease reaches this stage. An intervention may be the last chance to get your loved one proper healthcare before it’s too late. 

5. Nothing Else Has Worked

Do you feel like you’ve tried everything? Interventions are successful because they put all of the person’s most important loved ones in the same room. There’s no opportunity to hide. Each member of the intervention team shares their concerns while also expressing their love and support. 

Additionally, interventions are an opportunity for family members to get on the same page with boundaries. Knowing their loved ones can no longer be manipulated into providing financial support is a strong motivator to enter treatment. 

Supporting Loved Ones in Addiction

How do you start an intervention conversation? Speaking to other family members about staging an intervention isn’t easy, but neither is ignoring the problem. Start by forming a small team of two or three of the addicted person’s closest loved ones. Discuss your motivations for planning an intervention and your hopes for an outcome. 

Speak to an interventionist to learn more about the process before sharing the plan with others. A professional will offer guidance on the best next steps to increase the chance of a successful outcome. 

Do You Need the Help of an Interventionist?

An intervention may be the right decision when your loved one’s substance use disorder has become uncontrollable. If other efforts have not helped, and you fear for your loved one’s safety or can see their health deteriorating, an intervention can offer hope.

Planning an intervention on your own can be difficult, but how do you know an interventionist is right for your specific situation? Most people have little or no experience with hiring an interventionist, and that’s understandable. 

The addiction recovery consultants at Never Alone Recovery will help you find a compassionate professional with the experience to help. To learn more about finding an interventionist, call our team at 866-788-8335.