What
Is An Intervention?
An intervention is a meeting
usually started by immediate family or friends to express their concern
about what is going on and how it affects the family. The goal of
the intervention is to have an evaluation done, followed by treatment
if necessary. The intervention is not a loud, physical confrontation
between two or more people. Every precaution is taken to prevent the
intervention from getting out of hand. People who cannot control their
anger should not be invited to participate. We cannot control the
anger of the person we are intervening on, but special measures can
be taken to help control the situation.
The structured
intervention is the therapeutic tool used by the family and other
concerned people to get the addicted person the help he/she needs.
This is not a loud angry confrontation, but rather an open expression
of love and concern. Usually there are 4 to 12 concerned people involved.
The family is educated about alcohol (or other drug), the problems
that evolve with chronic heavy use, and the disease of alcoholism.
The family also needs to know how the symptoms of the disease affect
the family. The family is also informed how the family's behavior
fits into or even perpetuates the problem.
The goal of any intervention
is always the same: to get the addicted person the help he/she need
before he/she experiences loss of family, loss of job, health problems,
jail time or even loss of life.
An Intervention Never
Fails
The chemically dependent
person will always see each of you in the bottom of the glass any
time he or she drinks again. The seed is planted — he/she knows
all of you are aware and who to contact when they need help. We say
"Intervention never fails." Sometimes hours, days or weeks
later the person may decide it is time to get help. But the seed was
planted — a drink will never taste the same. To learn more:
Frequently
asked questions about intervention
A
description of the intervention process
Tips
for preparing for an intervention
Information on the intervention
process is provided by Lost and Found Ministry,
a service of Trinity Lutheran Church of Moorhead, MN.
