Addiction
Intervention Outline
1. THE
GROUP
 a.
Contact a group of friends, family, co-workers or other
important people in the alcoholic-addict's life that
are willing to participate.
b. Ask
that they prepare a written, non-accusatory statement
that includes the worth of addict or alcoholic including
the good traits and characteristics they display when
they’re not drinking or using, their factual observations
of how he has behaved -and frequently misbehaved- due
to alcohol or drugs and because they deeply care for
the individual they want nothing more than for him to
accept the help that has become available to him.
c. It
is a good idea for the group to assemble at least one
time to rehearse their statements and edit them to eliminate
any content that may become too repetitive or confrontational.
2. OTHER PREPARATIONS
a. Locate an affordable
licensed detoxification center with an available bed.
b. Discuss the payment
of the detox fees with the group’s participants.
c. If
at all possible, have someone pack a suitcase of clothes
and personal items for about 7-days. If necessary, you
may have to purchase the clothes and other items, because
if the intervention is successful you must seize the
moment.
3. THE INTERVENTION
a. Some
believe that the use of deception to lure the subject
of the intervention to the sight where it is to take
place may set a bad beginning tone, after all no one
likes to be deceived. However, the simple truth is,
if he knows what’s in store he will never, ever
show up. So, what you must do is trick him into coming
to a pre-determined place at a pre-determined time where
the group has assembled and is waiting. This may seem
like an ambush (only because it is), but it is the only
way.
b. When
your loved-one with the problem arrives, he will more
than likely be very surprised to see everyone. Assure
him that you are all there out of concern and ask him
only to hear you out with an open mind, that’s
all you ask.
c. Remember
the goal is to convince him to enter a detox facility.
If he has been convinced, time is of the essence, you
must seize the moment. Tell him there is a place where
he can go and get help, but he must go immediately.
Two or three of the most persuasive participants should
drive him and his suitcase directly to the pre-determined
detox center that is prepared for his arrival.
d. Should
he instead persist in his state of denial it’s
time for some tough love. Inform him as a group that
you all still love and care for him regardless of his
decision, but that none of you can continue to actively
participate in the insanity of his addiction on any
level, that it’s time to part ways and he basically
on his own at this time.
The sad, but simple truth is that as
long as someone is willing to continue to bail out an
active alcoholic or addict from the wreckage that he
has created for himself, the addict or alcoholic is
just as willing to continue to create wreckage is his
own life and the live's of those that care.
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