Suffering from a substance use disorder is hard enough, but hearing from loved ones that one’s behavior is also hurting friends and family can be even harder. Interventions for substance use disorder are not a casual undertaking — they require planning and heavy consideration of what should be done to best help everyone, especially the person struggling with a substance or alcohol use disorder.
Because of these meetings' sensitive nature, choosing when it is best to hold an intervention is a crucial choice to make.
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Recognizing A Loved One Needs Help
Before an intervention, it helps that the individual is in a position where getting treatment is beneficial. Even though they may not realize it — often those suffering from addiction experience denial — their family and friends can recognize the warning signs of a substance abuse disorder when they cannot.
There are signs of a substance or alcohol use disorder that family and friends may notice. Some of these include:
Centering activities around getting and using drugs or alcohol.
New friends who also use substances.
Coping with feelings by getting high or drinking
Personality changes both when they are using or not using.
External problems, such as arrests, DUI’s, job losses, broken relationships.
Being unable to control the amount they are drinking or using.
Poor decision-making while under the influence of substances such as driving while drunk, unprotected sex, sharing drug paraphernalia such as needles.
Physical and emotional signs of withdrawal are alleviated when they drink or use a substance.
If you see any of these signs and are concerned, you can start making notes of how often they are using and if thier use increasing. Aside from any physical and behavioral changes, it helps to observe the patterns in their substance use. If they were using a prescription drug, did their prescription increase? Did they suddenly begin to refill their prescriptions more often? Did they realize they needed it every night to calm down if they were drinking alcohol or using a recreational drug? Did they begin to drink or use more than they ever did before? Were they increasingly agitated and angry when not under the influence?
Look for signs of increased tolerance and subsequently increased dependence on whatever they were using. If they cannot seem to function normally without it, then it is likely they already have a substance use disorder, or they are in the process of developing one.
Suppose you bring your concerns up to your loved one, and they express feelings of denial, anger, irritation, hostility, or any reaction as such. In that case, it is probably a good time to begin planning an intervention. Often individuals know that what they are doing is dangerous for their well-being. Still, substance use disorders will cause them to continue using despite any cautionary thoughts they may have.
Interventions can be an excellent way to help someone break through their denial. Often, when an individual sees that what they are going through is affecting them and worrying their loved ones, they may become more willing to accept help.
Interventions Should not Be Rushed
Once it is determined that an intervention is necessary, it is vital to be prepared. You probably want an intervention sooner rather than later to really help the individual, but it may harm rather than help if the intervention is not thought out carefully.
GAther a group of people that the individual trusts and cares about. Although their addiction may make them less likely to show affection, having people they love to speak their mind to them will still have a profound effect if done correctly. Pick a time and a place to meet without telling the individual and find a way to get them to be there. Create an end goal for the intervention and plan for if the individual does not choose to seek out treatment in the end.
It is often recommended to have an interventionist present as well—they are trained to be able to mediate situations like this and will be able to keep open communication and calm down irritated parties. Interventions are emotional events for everyone involved, and having a trained outside perspective present can quell any hostile feelings.
In general, whether the individual has been officially diagnosed with a substance or alcohol use disorder, if their condition is worrying a group of those who they love the most to sit them down and express their feelings, an intervention is necessary.
If planned thoroughly with the right people involved, interventions can be successful and help an individual seek the help they may not have known they needed.
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