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People who struggle with addiction are oftentimes unwilling to admit that their actions affect everyone around them. If a loved one has an addiction and is in denial about their condition, consider staging an intervention.

Read on to learn several important parts of an intervention from a sober living environment in Santa Rosa serving both alcohol and drug addictions.

What is an Intervention?

An intervention is a meeting to confront a loved one with a drinking problem about their addiction and motivate them to seek help. The participants in an intervention often include family members of the person, their friends, and a doctor or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. Sometimes, an interventionist oversees proceedings.

During an intervention, the participants discuss specific examples of destructive behaviors displayed by the person and their impact on their loved ones. The participants propose a treatment plan with clear steps and guidelines. Every group member decides the steps they’ll take if the person refuses to accept treatment.

How to Stage an Intervention?

Set Up a Plan

A family member or friend proposes an intervention. The participants assess the extent of the person’s addiction problem and research intervention techniques, the condition and treatment programs. The group reaches out to an interventionist, addiction professional, or psychologist to request the professional help them organize an effective intervention.

Create the Intervention Team

Your intervention team should comprise four to six people, whom your loved one respects, likes, or counts on. The intervention group meets with the interventionist to choose a day and location. The group creates a structured intervention plan. Every group member decides what they’ll say to the person. The group chooses the treatment plans to be offered and discusses the consequences each person will present to the loved one if they refuse to accept treatment.

Hold the Intervention

Have the person come to the agreed-upon location. Do not reveal the reason or they may refuse to participate in the intervention. Once everyone settles down, each participant takes turns to express their concern about the person’s addiction problem.

The group spells out (in detail) the treatment plan it has selected. The person is asked to accept the option on spot. If they refuse to accept treatment, every group member explains the steps they’ll take. When describing the consequences of refusal to accept the treatment option, each member should avoid antagonizing the person, or they may feel that they’re under attack.

Follow Up

Keep track of your loved one’s progress. If they’ve entered treatment, offer them support and encourage them to stay in treatment. If they have refused treatment, consult a healthcare professional about your options.

An environment full of temptations is one of the several roadblocks to addiction recovery in Santa Rosa. Life-Rock offers a sober living environment devoid of temptations where recovering alcoholics can learn life skills and share each other’s experiences with addiction. To make an appointment, call (707) 575-9100 for our men’s helpline or (707) 575-9599 for our women’s helpline.