Family intervention is an important event created by family and friends of a person struggling with addiction. Everyone involved wants to help them realize they have a problem and that they need help and support. However, it is not uncommon for families and friends to hesitate and hold off planning a family intervention.
An intervention is a carefully planned process, and most families hire a professional interventionist to help. Yet, how do you know when to decide to organize an intervention and when is the best time to pull the trigger? When planning an intervention and knowing when to organize one, there are some things to consider. However, never wait to plan an intervention—if, as a family, you are talking about intervention, there is a good reason for that, and it should be acted upon.
The Myth of Rock Bottom
Rock bottom is a slogan thrown around by some industry experts and gained popularity with reality television and viewers witnessing a rock bottom moment that seems to work flawlessly. However, there is more misconception than truth surrounding the term rock bottom. Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol does not and will not hit rock bottom to become sober. More than anyone else, family members firmly believe that their drug-addicted family members must reach rock bottom or have an awakening before they reach out for help.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a general consensus that if a drug user has not seen the light or continues to relapse, they have not reached a point of rock bottom. Believing things have to get worse before they get better is counterintuitive and does not help the person struggling with addiction. Rock bottom is not a prerequisite for getting sober or asking for help. The longer an addict is left to abuse drugs or alcohol, their addiction becomes progressively worse, making it harder to intervene.
Once the people close to the addict are certain they are struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, that would be the time to intervene. Do not wait and do not hesitate because, in today’s world of drug abuse and addiction, the risk of overdose is extremely high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of April 2020, there have been 76,092 drug overdose deaths, and it has continued to climb, especially during the on-going pandemic.
The Myth of Being Ready for Rehab for Intervention to Work
There is a misconception that an addict has to be ready for rehab for an intervention to work. Even when some family members engage the topic of intervention, others push back, saying he or she is not ready. Part of knowing when to decide when to organize an intervention is pushing this misconception aside. A family intervention exists to improve the outcomes for the person addicted to drugs or alcohol by improving family engagement and their ability to take control and handle the problem.
No one addicted to drugs or alcohol looks forward to entering treatment—they may know they have a problem, but the substance has taken over completely. Fear of not having the substance is the one thing that prevents them from seeking treatment. The point at which an addict decides to accept help during a family intervention is not the same for every person. Regardless of what they have done because of the addiction or what they are about to do, they will never be fully ready.
The purpose of a family intervention is to help the drug-addicted family member make a change. Addiction causes strong mental, emotional, and physical cravings that motivate the drug user to continue using despite the consequences. During the intervention, participants discuss ways that the substance abuser’s addiction is harming them and how their actions have harmed their loved ones. Overall, it has a profound impact because of the loving and genuine concern voiced to the addict.
There is Always Hope for Recovery at Any Point During Addiction
Regardless of where a person is with their addiction, they can recover and maintain sobriety. Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol has countless barriers and reasons for not becoming sober. Family and friends of an addict should not have any barriers or reasons for intervening. Overcoming addiction is possible, and maintaining sobriety is not an impossible feat to achieve. The people closest to the person abusing drugs or alcohol should take a step back and look at what they can do to help. Moreover, remove any barriers or misconceptions about family intervention and do not wait to make the decision to organize an intervention.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
