| Doctors and counselors alike believe that one of the | | | | It's also important to work toward the goal of getting |
| most effective methods to help an alcoholic is through | | | | the alcoholic to accept responsibility, and admit that |
| the use of a tool called an intervention. In recent years | | | | they have a problem and need help. When you reach |
| this has become a widely accepted and approved | | | | the point where they admit they have a problem and |
| method to use to help a loved one. There are | | | | need help, you must have a plan already drawn up to |
| professional interventionists who can work with you or | | | | get them the help immediately. For most families this |
| you may chose to do it on your own as a group of | | | | means getting them to a treatment center and |
| family and friends. | | | | admitted that day. This will involve the necessity of |
| Many alcoholics are unaware of the damage that their | | | | having everything they will need ready to go. A |
| addiction does, not only to themselves, but to all around | | | | suitcase packed and ready to go. If they need to fly to |
| them who love and care about them. Many try to | | | | the treatment center then you will need plane |
| blame others for their problems and are unable to take | | | | reservations ahead of time. Plans need to include who |
| any kind of responsibility. Through a family intervention | | | | will go with them to the airport and accompany them |
| it is possible to show the alcoholic the harm and | | | | on the trip. Medications that they are currently taking |
| damage they are causing to themselves, as well as | | | | need to be accessed, as well as written down for the |
| loved ones, and by using the love and concern of the | | | | doctors at the center. Once all the trip preparations are |
| group you can break through their wall of resistance | | | | completed it's time to move to the next step. |
| and denial in order to help them see that they need to | | | | Rehearsing the alcohol intervention is a crucial step. |
| change. | | | | You need to decide where everyone will sit, and in |
| An alcohol intervention takes a great deal of | | | | what order people will speak. It's also a good idea to |
| preparation and planning, and gets the whole family | | | | have someone act as the addicted person and raise |
| involved in the process. You need to involve as many | | | | objections, so that people will be prepared when it |
| as possible who are willing to try and help, by being as | | | | actually happens. This is an important step as it is |
| honest as possible with the alcoholic. Keeping the | | | | almost guaranteed that the person will raise objections. |
| intervention secret is one of the keys to a successful | | | | It's also important to plan to have cars parked |
| intervention. You will also need to have a plan that is | | | | somewhere where they will not be seen, as you do |
| ready to be put into motion if the alcoholic is willing to | | | | not want to tip off the alcoholic. Someone will also |
| go for treatment. Everyone should write a one or two | | | | need to be the leader of the group and will need to |
| page letter to the person, and explain in detail all the | | | | have a prepared introduction statement ready upon |
| hurt and pain that person has caused for them, their | | | | the persons arrival. |
| concerns for the persons future and do it all without | | | | If all goes well and the person is ready for help, act |
| judging them, blaming them or expressing anger. Once | | | | immediately to get them to the treatment center. |
| everyone has their letters ready the group should go | | | | Confirm the reservations if need be, and alert the |
| over them and help each other to get exactly the right | | | | center that the person will be arriving that day. After |
| tone for what they would like to express. As they | | | | this is accomplished and the alcohol intervention has |
| express their hurt and pain it's also important to talk | | | | been completed successfully, it's important for the |
| about their love, concern and the support they have | | | | family to get counseling in order to learn what they can |
| for the person. | | | | do to help the recovery go smoothly. |