It is intended as a resource to understand what treatment choices are available and what to consider when selecting among them. For more information, please visit the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator®, an online tool that helps individuals find the right treatment for them—and near them. The Navigator offers a step-by-step process to finding a highly qualified professional treatment provider. If the subject of the intervention knows they have support as they enter medical detox and a comprehensive rehabilitation program, they are more likely to agree to treatment. If you are planning to hold an intervention with a loved one, your next question may be what their alcohol addiction treatment program will consist of and what it will be like. Several types of treatment programs for alcohol use disorders (AUD) are available.
Groups for Family and Friends
An intervention is a carefully planned process that family and friends can do, working with a doctor or another health care professional, such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. An intervention professional, also known as an interventionist, also could direct an intervention. It sometimes includes a member of your loved one’s faith community or others who care about the person struggling with addiction. These organizations welcome inquiries from concerned friends or family members of individuals with alcohol use disorders.
Things to Avoid at an Intervention
Instead, think of starting a conversation where you’re on their team. It’s important to remember that a successful intervention for alcohol abuse must be planned carefully for it to work as intended. A poorly planned and managed intervention can make the situation worse. Your loved one may feel attacked and become more isolated and more resistant to getting treatment. Additionally, these specialists can help to design an intervention strategy tailored to your loved one.
Signs it is Time for an Alcohol Intervention
Planning a follow-up is just as critical, be it seeking immediate admission to a treatment facility if the person agrees or deciding on consequences if they refuse. Evaluate the coverage in your health insurance plan to determine how much of the costs your insurance will cover and how much you will have to pay. Ask different programs if they offer sliding-scale fees—some programs may offer lower prices or payment how to do an intervention for an alcoholic plans for individuals without health insurance. Couples and family counseling incorporates spouses and other family members in the treatment process and can play an important role in repairing and improving family relationships. Studies show that strong family support through family therapy increases the chances of maintaining abstinence (not drinking) compared with people going to individual counseling.
The Importance of Being Informed About Addiction Before an Intervention
- The team should also ask how much intervention experience the person has, and the type of intervention model they use.
- So can talking about potential treatment options with your intervention specialist.
- Often, children, partners, siblings and parents are on the receiving end of abuse, violence, threats and emotional upheaval because of alcohol and drug issues.
- Forcing or requiring your loved one to enter treatment can be counterproductive.
- If so, offer to drive them to doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, support group meetings, or do other things that show that you care.
- Still, it’s equally as important to keep your own mental health in mind through this process.
- In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM).
On one hand, you want to maintain your relationship; however, you want your loved one to get the help they need. Alcohol interventions have been used to help people confront their substance use problems. The problem is that, left untreated, addiction tends to worsen over time, hurting the individual misusing alcohol—and their family and friends, too. In some cases, the person who is addicted isn’t ready or willing to accept responsibility for their problem. The intervention itself may set off additional behavior problems that can complicate the relationship between the addicted person and the intervention team members.
Work with an addiction professional
An alcohol intervention specialist can be invaluable to anyone interested in staging an intervention with a loved one who is an alcoholic. These professionals include licensed counselors and psychotherapists and can help loved ones better understand addiction and plan the intervention. An alcohol intervention is a stressful process for everyone involved, and it’s natural to have questions or concerns about it.
- An intervention specialist should be ready to give the alcoholic information about alcohol treatment and even arrange treatment in a suitable alcohol treatment program.
- By sticking to the script and following your alcohol intervention plan closely, you’re more likely to get your loved one to agree to a treatment plan.
- For serious alcohol use disorder, you may need a stay at a residential treatment facility.
- American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.
There are several models of substance use disorder interventions. It also may be right to ask your loved one to seek support from a group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s very important to work with a professional for an intervention to succeed. This is especially true if you think your loved one may react violently or harm themselves. The subject of the intervention must be ready to accept the help, and you can’t force this process.
Once every member of the intervention team has had a chance to speak, the addict should be presented with detailed suggestions for a treatment plan. The addict can accept the offer then and there, or the team may be willing to give them a few days to weigh their options. Even if an intervention doesn’t work, you and others in your loved one’s life can make changes that may help.