| If somebody you love is suffering an addiction to drugs | | | | behavior that your loved one has expressed, and the |
| or alcohol, an intervention is the most important thing | | | | consequences of these actions. |
| you can do. A drug or alcohol intervention is more than | | | | * Organize information about drug and alcohol |
| just a wake-up call for your friend or family | | | | addiction that you can show examples of the |
| member… it is also a way for you to vent, cut ties, | | | | damages that addiction causes, and compare these to |
| and relieve yourself of any unnecessary stress that | | | | the behavior of your friend. |
| has built up. | | | | * Be blunt and completely honest. If your friend |
| The first thing you should know about a drug or alcohol | | | | has stolen from you, or betrayed your trust in any |
| intervention is that you will not get the result you are | | | | way, let them know it. Do not be afraid to hurt their |
| hoping for. Your loved one will not immediately realize | | | | feelings, or to let them know they are not welcome in |
| the consequences of their actions and get sober. | | | | your home until they clean up their act. It is important |
| Unfortunately, it's not that easy for anybody struggling | | | | for you to put yourself first in this situation, and to let |
| with addiction to change their ways. | | | | an addict know if they have drained you. |
| However, by confronting your loved one with a proper | | | | * It is very important to also let them know they |
| drug and alcohol intervention, you will be getting through | | | | can come to you for help, at any time, and you will be |
| to that person. That is, you will be getting through those | | | | there to support them in making the right decisions. |
| walls and reaching a part of him or her that is the | | | | (And be clear that you can not be around the wrong |
| person you once knew. | | | | decisions any longer, because of the effect it has on |
| Drug or Alcohol Intervention Checklist | | | | you.) |
| * Gather friends, family members, coworkers, | | | | * Put your foot down, and keep it down. Once |
| neighbors. Gather as many people as you can to | | | | you have made your point, allow somebody else to |
| participate. | | | | speak up and make theirs. The person who is being |
| Encourage everybody to participate with any | | | | confronted should have the opportunity to speak |
| comments or examples of specific behavior. | | | | between everyone… and should also be given |
| The more who participate in a drug or alcohol | | | | opportunity to speak last at the intervention. |
| intervention, the better! | | | | The final, and most important, part of having a drug or |
| (But don't exclude anybody who doesn't wish to speak | | | | alcohol intervention is following through. Don't support |
| up. Hearing others talk may change their mind, and the | | | | any bad decisions, including the hopeful plan to quit cold |
| more people who are present for an intervention, the | | | | turkey or to cut back. These are dead end roads, and |
| more likely you are of getting through.) | | | | supporting these ideas further enables somebody to |
| Never try to have a drug or alcohol intervention by | | | | continue their struggles with addiction. |
| yourself. | | | | The decision you should support, and encourage, is to |
| * Consult your local rehab center for drug and | | | | seek help by detoxifying and then following up with a |
| alcohol intervention tips. Most rehab centers offer | | | | variety of counseling programs that will help your loved |
| intervention services. | | | | one to permanently stay sober and live the best life |
| * Organize specific examples of problematic | | | | they are capable of. |