Drug Abuse Intervention

If you know someone who abuses drugs but is in denial and refuses to realize the extent of their problem, a drug abuse intervention may be necessary.

People with drug addictions often believe they do not require help; they think their behavior is normal. They may think other people are "out to get them" or they accuse people of lying in order to avoid the reality of their addiction. Getting people to accept that they have a drug addiction is the goal of a drug abuse intervention.

People with addiction issues don't want to deal with them; they want to continue with the lifestyle that permits them to use the drug. A drug abuse intervention directly tackles the perception people with drug addictions have of their own behavior. It provides a forum where important people in the life of the individual who needs help can describe how the addiction affects them.

Benefits of a Drug Abuse Intervention

A drug abuse intervention helps speed up the process of acceptance. Sometimes people only accept that they have a drug problem when one final horrifying event occurs, such as surviving an overdose, seriously injuring someone else, committing a devastating crime or having become homeless. An intervention helps the person realize that there is a problem BEFORE these types of events occur.

Who Takes Part in a Drug Abuse Intervention?

Drug abuse intervention teams are usually comprised of family members, caring friends, the family doctor, teachers, spiritual advisors, special work colleagues or anyone else that is deemed to hold an influential and compassionate role in the person's life.

It is important to make sure that the intervention is handled with as much compassion and care as possible in order to avoid making it seem like an attack. Telling someone in denial that they have a problem is a delicate issue and it needs to be perceived from people they trust, not people they argue with or have negative feelings toward.

The addict must be sober for this event in order to internalize and examine the reality of their behavior. Professional drug abuse intervention facilitators manage and maintain the interaction between all members of the intervention team. The goal is to break the pattern of denial and get the person into treatment immediately. The drug abuse intervention specialist plans the event with the intervention team, scripts what kind of language is appropriate to meet the goal and coaches the team to share information that will help break down the denial pattern.

Lakeview Health Systems has skilled intervention experts who are ready to help you 24/7 to form a drug abuse intervention team. Call us at 1-800-708-4156 now or complete our quick form for drug abuse intervention help. Let us help you intervene before that last and final devastating event. All calls are toll-free and confidential.