Assisted Intervention

Intervention is used when family and friends realize their loved one has a problem, but that person does not see that reality, and are resistant to seeking help. The best course of action, if it is feasible, is to set up an intervention with a professional interventionist. This normally isn’t like what one sees on the A&E shows by that name. Rather, those shows are most likely a set up with actors. Not too many people act like that in front of a camera unless they are an actor.

How it usually goes is that the interventionist talks with the family for a while prior to meeting with the addict. At that time they make sure that arrangements are made so that the person can leave to go get treatment without all the other worries of life getting in the way, for example, their children or pet will be cared for, their monthly bills are sorted out, a leave of absence is arranged from work, etc.
At that point the decision will be made with the interventionist whether it is better to speak with the person as a group or on his or her own. The only purpose of a drug, alcohol or gambling intervention is to get the person to agree with the interventionist to leave for the airport and be escorted to the rehab center and into treatment immediately, before they have a chance to change their minds.

Also quite often when the family confronts the alcoholic or person using drugs on their own, they can do more harm than good and create negative feeling and resentment within the family. Bringing in an interventionist can redirect the negative emotions away from the family and onto the interventionist instead.