How to Hold an Intervention
On November 9, 2006, Patrick Smith gave up a lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and substance abuse. He was 46 years young. He had a new grandson, and his daughters and family had finally made plans to get together for Thanksgiving for the first time in years. His autopsy report listed his death as a suicide, resulting from an overdose of prescription medications.Patrick lost the struggle, but your loved one does not have to lose his or her life. An intervention can provide a golden opportunity for your loved one to see the damage his or her substance abuse or untreated mental illness is affecting himself and everyone around him. It can provide a loving transition from the insane merry-go-round of addiction and illness to finally having a life.
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Instructions
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Recognize that there is a problem. If someone's actions are resulting in fights, property damage, emotional or physical abuse, contact with law enforcement, arrests, emergency room visits, lost work, or financial woes, it is time to take stock and see what can be done.
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Arrange a time and place for the intervention. It should take your loved one by surprise. You need to involve others. Anybody else who is being affected by his or her actions needs to be there. Arrange for professionals such as doctors, religious leaders, drug counselors, and employers to also attend the meeting.
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Make it very clear to the person who is the subject of the intervention that your purpose is to help him. Talk about your concerns, leaving out any blaming, accusations or hurt feelings. Simply lay out what is happening and why you think the person needs help solving the issue.
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Have the professionals attending lay out the person's options. A doctor can talk about the effects of the person's actions on her physical and mental health. He can lay out what consequences the person will have for not doing something to fix the problem now. An employer can let the person know that, although he hopes to keep the person employed, he will not be able to do so if he does not address the problem. Drug counselors can let the person know the reality of where they are headed.
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Explain the options available to the individual: 12 steps programs, counseling, outpatient therapy, hospitalization, or long term treatments centers. Be supportive of the individual's decision to try the least restrictive options first.
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Follow up with the individual, and find a support program such as Families Anonymous, Parent's Anonymous, Al Anon, or Alateen for yourself. This will help you deal with the emotional and physical toll or having a loved one with mental health or substance abuse problems.
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Tips & Warnings
Take stock of yourself and your relationship before you attempt an intervention.
Be sure to be objective. Tell the person what you see happening without accusations, demands and hurt feelings.
Include professionals. Outsiders can often be more objective.
Choose a neutral location for the intervention, preferably one with a little privacy.
Do not yell, accuse or give ultimatums.
Do not blame the person's problem for everything else that is going wrong in your life. It may be causing a great deal of trouble, but substance abuse and mental health problems are often just the visible symptoms.
