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Addiction Intervention Basics stevenlodgeinterventions.com

What is an intervention, how it works, and why it is better than doing it yourself

An addiction intervention or alcohol intervention is a commonly used approach to gently confront an individual with an addiction of some sort, address his or her addictive behavior, and obtain treatment.

But an addiction intervention isn`t quite that simple or straightforward. It isn`t, for example, simply going up to the addicted individual and saying, "Hey, you`ve got a drug problem, and I don`t like it. Let`s go to the treatment center-now." Most addicts live in a world of denial and tend to rationalize and project anger at those who confront them with their disease.

So what does an addiction intervention involve? There are several facts and points about addiction interventions to take into consideration, and two in particular.

First of all, interventions are rarely a one-on-one process. An intervention almost always involves a strong support network made up of individuals who are concerned about the well-being of the individual with the addiction, and, if possible, should include an intervention specialist or other trained professional for dealing with addictions. The addict is empowered by his disease and generally works hard to preserve it. A strong showing of love and support from the intervention team works best to pierce the defense mechanisms of the addict.

Secondly, interventions are never spur-of-the-moment or sporadic. Successful addiction interventions must always be carefully thought out and planned for and always involve a lot of preparation, discussion, and even practice sessions. There are many critical decisions and organizing that must occur prior to the intervention such as, who will participate in the intervention, where will the intervention occur, time, date, what type of treatment is recommended, for how long, who pays, who will clear the addicts schedule for treatment, and many, many other major decisions.

Interventions are used for all types of addictions-from drug and alcohol problems to pornography, gambling, and eating disorder problems. And it`s a proven fact that interventions-when done properly-work and work well.

How do they work? An addiction intervention works by demonstrating to the struggling individual that they are loved and cared for, that they have a negative addiction that requires attention, and that the group is there to help them seek treatment and offer ongoing support in overcoming their particular problem.

Generally speaking, addiction interventions are much more effective at battling the disease than trying to go it alone. Why? Because an intervention involves other people`s support and assistance. And, if counseled properly, their support is genuine, comes from their heart and is the most effective way to reach a person suffering from addiction..

People struggling with an addiction who try to overcome it themselves, in private, are almost always unsuccessful. They may make many valiant attempts, but without any regular encouragement or accountability, they falter.

Other struggling individuals may not even recognize they have a true problem, or may refuse help. In all these instances, an intervention done correctly can do wonders for an addicted person`s self-esteem and ultimate success in overcoming their addiction.

No matter what addiction your loved one is struggling with, an addiction intervention is one of the most loving and caring acts you can do for them, particularly since their life may depend on it.