One of the most challenging things you can do in life is save yourself or a loved one from going down the dark path of addiction. We are not born with the tools needed to handle a delicate and serious matter like addiction, but we can learn about its nature and how to stage an effective intervention when a loved one begins to show signs of drug abuse.
When a person develops an addiction to opiates, they will exhibit some signs. An intervention can help them take the first step to alter the course of their life. There are a few factors to consider before staging an opiate addiction intervention.
What Is An Intervention?
An intervention is a conversation between you and another person about their addiction. It can be conducted between two people or with family members and friends. The goal of an intervention is to get the person to admit that they need help with their addiction. While it may seem straightforward, it can be challenging to accomplish this goal. To stage an effective intervention requires careful planning and possibly the help of an addiction specialist.
People who have staged an intervention for a loved one have found a compassionate approach to be effective. It is a complex and emotionally-charged event that is all worth it in the end when your loved one becomes motivated to receive addiction treatment and begin the path to recovery.
Factors To Consider For Staging an Intervention
Important factors to consider for staging an intervention include when to stage it, who is included in the intervention, its deliberate planning, and the possibility of rejection.
When To Stage An Intervention
An intervention is best staged as soon as you notice the drug abuse is happening. Symptoms of drug abuse include being mentally checked out, a deteriorating appearance, a lack of interest in proper hygiene, worsening health, and a declining sense of responsibility at home and at work. As the addiction takes hold of the person, they may miss work and isolate themselves from family and friends. Be careful not to stage interventions while the person is high or experiencing withdrawal symptoms, which can contribute to the failure of the intervention.
Planning The Intervention
An intervention is an act of love, therefore, the addicted person’s loved ones (friends and family) are likely to be part of the intervention. In some cases, counselors, psychiatrists, and addiction professionals may also be part of the intervention. Choosing the right people to participate is critical to the success of the intervention.
Sometimes, interventions fail. The person may not receive it well and deny the problem, and you should plan for this possibility. Sometimes, it takes more than one intervention to help a person begin the path to recovery; it varies from person to person. The most important thing is to not give up on them. When things don’t go as planned, reach out to a professional for guidance.
Psychiatrist in NYC and Southbury, CT
At Psy-Visions, we provide comprehensive psychiatric services to patients with substance abuse problems and addictions. We also offer some patients the option of telepsychiatry, or receiving mental health and substance abuse treatment remotely. To find out more about our services, call Psy-Visions at (718) 887-2918 in New York or (203) 405-1745 in Connecticut or you can send us a secure message online now.
