An alcohol intervention is a process in which an alcoholic’s loved ones gather together to confront him or her in an effort to persuade them to quit drinking. The ultimate goal of most alcohol interventions is to make alcoholics realize that they have a problem and that they must stop drinking. To successfully accomplish this, a group of loved ones must make it clear that that they care for and respect the alcoholic and are only concerned about their wellbeing. It can be difficult to know how to do an intervention with a family member who is struggling with alcohol use. In most cases, preparations for an intervention should be made quietly and privately so the person with alcoholism does not know about it ahead of time.
The groups for family and friends listed below may be a good starting point. Your loved one’s primary care doctor or GP can evaluate their drinking patterns, assess their overall health and any co-occurring disorders, and provide treatment referrals. If appropriate, your loved one’s doctor may even prescribe medication approved to help treat alcohol dependence. Alcohol abuse and addiction (also known as “alcohol use disorder”) doesn’t just affect the person drinking—it affects their families and loved ones, too.
The 4 Stages of Alcohol Recovery: A Path to Healing
They might feel deceived, hurt, or angry and lash out in any number of ways. They might act out their feelings verbally or physically, and possibly even violently. They may start physical or verbal altercations and may even attempt to hurt themselves, during, or after the event. Still, your loved one’s response to intervention can take any number of turns—some better, or worse, than others. Holding the intervention at home might allow the person certain “outs,” like the retreat to a bedroom or bathroom. Instead, think of places like your intervention specialists’ office, or possibly a private room at a church or community center.
- Family members should also consider seeking help for themselves, regardless of whether the alcoholic agrees to get help.
- Stick to the agreed-upon plan and encourage your loved one to seek treatment for the best outcome.
- Depending on the level of your loved one’s problem—and how much control they have over their drinking—they may be able to reduce their alcohol intake to a healthier level rather than quit altogether.
- If your loved one does agree to attend a treatment center, they should not be expected to research their treatment options on their own.
- AAC accepts many private insurance policies, as well as some Medicaid policies.
During the recovery stage, it’s not uncommon to feel temporarily worse. For some people, AUD has hurt their relationships, careers, health, finances, self-esteem, and other aspects of their lives. An intervention involves coming together to encourage your loved one to get help for their addiction. It usually occurs with a doctor, a counselor, an interventionist, or even a member of your loved one’s faith.
Support for Me and My Family
However, this does not mean that your loved one’s addiction has not also impacted you. Protecting your loved one from consequences is easier in the short term, but in the long term, it is enabling their substance abuse. As a result, some people do not agree to pursuing treatment options during the intervention process. Alcoholism, while a powerful addiction, can be overcome with the love and support of family paired with our team of professionals. When determining a professional alcohol interventionist, you must actively evaluate the specified elements to ensure you find the right fit for your needs. Having a plan of action from a trained professional will ensure that everyone is prepared for potential obstacles that could arise when dealing with this challenging problem.
Combining therapy with support groups can greatly improve your odds of success. Therapy combined with an AUD program tends to lead to a high recovery success how to do an intervention for an alcoholic rate. During this period, you can expect to develop new skills you may have never learned that made you more susceptible to AUD in the first place.
Find an Alcohol Interventionist Near You
BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. You are enabling their behavior by protecting them from the consequences of their actions. You should also prepare for what happens if your loved one refuses help. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Ensuring your loved one doesn’t face any consequences isn’t helpful. The better planned and executed an intervention is, the more likely it is to succeed. Though no two interventions are alike, the guidelines are often the same.
