If you’re hosting an intervention, you need comprehensive plans for every step of the process and know what it will and won’t accomplish. An intervention won’t fix your loved one’s addiction. Interventions show the subject how their behavior harms others. If successful, this appeal to their empathy will convince them to enter treatment. 

Your intervention team must anticipate common mistakes and plan for them. Do research, and rehearse with a small team who understands how much the intervention matters. Write a plan that everyone will adhere to, and remain vigilant for deviations during the emotionally exhausting meeting. 

What to Do When Preparing For an Intervention 

Intervention planning needs coordination, and everyone involved wants input. Though group contributions matter, decentralization leads to miscommunication. Choose one person to coordinate the who, where, and what, and have them share plans with the group. 

Choose the Right Group 

Choose a smaller, intimate group that the subject loves and trusts. Their opinion should matter to the subject; if you question whether someone’s important enough to be invited, leave them out. 

Don’t include anyone the subject can provoke. Tempers flaring will destroy your carefully-cultivated atmosphere. Every attendee should be a team player who stays on-script and accepts feedback. 

Research Before an Intervention 

Don’t end an intervention with a vague request. Be specific. Present local resources from your research and make them part of your final ultimatum. 

Research yourselves, too. Know how their addiction affected every member of the team, including yourself. Then put everything in writing so everyone remembers everything during the conversation. 

Write a Script 

An intervention needs structure. Write a script, stick to it, and make everyone else commit to doing the same. Keep on topic and adhere to turns—don’t let others interject even if they believe it will help. 

The script should escalate as it progresses. Start with smaller concerns and slights and build as emotions and vulnerability grow. An intervention, like a performance, should have an impactful emotional climax. Your group can’t improvise, you must rehearse.  

How to Rehearse an Intervention for Addiction 

Rehearsing is mandatory. Never go in without at least one round of practice and group revisions. Test your wording and body language to remain comfortable, calm, and compassionate. 

Use the rehearsal to find who can’t or won’t stick to the plan. Then remove them before they hurt your chances of success. Everyone should listen to feedback and be willing to change, and practice on their own between rehearsals. 

If possible, choose a rehearsal location similar to the actual site you chose for your intervention. 

Choose the Perfect Spot 

Don’t hold the intervention in someone’s home. If at their house, the subject could lock themselves in a room and refuse to leave. If at someone else’s home, they’re subject to an uncomfortable power imbalance that harms your limited chance of success. 

Instead, choose a neutral, private space with sufficient room. Reserve or rent community spaces or rooms in a place of worship if members of the group are particularly religious. Make sure to tell your host the purpose of your visit. They may not allow interventions, and could expel the group if they find out. 

Find A Sober Time 

Try to find a time you know the subject will be sober and available. They’re more likely to listen when not intoxicated and have no obligations. Expect excuses—work, school, childcare—to slip away. Work with the group to predict these concerns and take steps (like hiring a babysitter) to preempt them.  

Making Sure an Intervention Succeeds 

Interventions succeed when everyone sticks to the plan. Keep everyone on the same page no matter what, and use the evidence in your prepared statements to make the most of this opportunity. 

Be Consistent 

Use the rehearsals to verify that the group will not only adhere to your script, but that they match one anothers’ performance. Test emotional differences—one person might be harsh, the other tender —and find a level that works for everyone. 

Then make sure everyone adheres to that tone. During rehearsals and the main event, watch for body language that tells you someone’s getting angry. If you see crossed arms, leaning forward, or standing when everyone else sits, remind them to take a deep breath. Someone who can’t stay calm shouldn’t be present. Be firm, but avoid insults or losing your temper. A commitment to stick to the facts makes this much easier. 

Support Statements with Evidence 

Don’t let anyone use platitudes or general statements to describe how the subject’s addiction hurt them. Have examples ready instead. Share times, dates, and events that their behavior caused or harmed in some way. They can argue with general statements, but they can’t contradict facts.  

Give Them Limited Autonomy 

Expect arguments, including harsh emotional ones as your loved one lashes out. Don’t respond to them, no matter how tempting. Verbal retaliation gives them control of the conversation, which they’ll steer away from their problem at the earliest opportunity.  

Though you can’t give them control over the conversation, keep them engaged. Ask questions and give them opportunities to share their more productive feelings. 

When the intervention ends, they have control over the most important part. Make sure they understand that no one else present can make the decision to enter treatment for them. They must commit to it themselves—and your group must demand that commitment before everyone leaves. 

Give them no time to “think it over.” They’ll use that time to stall or go on a binge to “use up” the rest of their stash before they enter rehab.  

Their decision should be binary—follow the plan or don’t. Give them the treatment options and information they need, because they won’t look for it themselves. These resources should include financial information—give them no opportunities to use cost as a reason to stay out of rehab. 

Call Never Alone Recovery for Intervention Resources 

You can prevent your loved one by using insurance costs as a concern by finding rehabs that take their insurance before the intervention. The Never Alone Program’s addiction recovery consultants have the resources you need to find insurance-approved rehabs nationwide. 

Though Never Alone focuses on Indiana rehabs, it and its resources are available everywhere. Call for more information about how it can help you plan the financial dimensions of your upcoming intervention. The support group offers a more personal touch where you can learn from others’ mistakes and share their success stories.