When staging an intervention for a loved one with addiction, the ideal outcome is motivating them to immediately enter treatment and embark on the road to recovery. But how can you truly tell, both during the intervention itself and in the weeks after, whether it is succeeding in achieving this goal and creating lasting change? While an emotionally charged intervention may seem impactful in the moment, the true test is if it leads to tangible actions and sustained transformation. There are important signs to look for throughout the process that indicate an intervention is not just breaking through denial temporarily but prompting real change for the long run. Monitoring both immediate receptiveness and long-term follow through is key to determining success. Here are important cues to assess whether the intervention is working right away and leading to maintained recovery down the road based on the individual’s concrete actions over time.
How do you know if an intervention is working?
There are important cues during the intervention itself that suggest it is effectively getting through and hitting home with the addicted person. If they actively listen with presence to what is being shared, become thoughtful and reflective about what is said, and fully engage in the sincerity of the process, these are good signs that things are going well and the intervention is resonating.
While brief flashes of denial, blame, overt resistance, anger, and refusal to directly participate can sometimes occur, these reactions should not set the dominant tone. Rather, pivotal moments of remorse, vulnerability, appreciation for loved ones, and earnestly asking questions about the treatment options signal that the intervention is genuinely working by getting through their barriers.
If the addicted individual substantively discusses potential next steps for seeking help rather than rejecting any notion of treatment outright, this provides hope that the intervention is in fact getting through and creating openness to positive change in their mindset. Demonstrating receptiveness and willingness during the intervention itself is promising, but not an ironclad guarantee of long-term success on its own. You know and intervention worked when your loved one is tested with drugs or alcohol and chooses the right path.
Successful interventions
The clearest markers of an ultimately effective intervention are immediate entry into addiction treatment right after the event concludes coupled with ongoing follow-through on the long, difficult road of recovery in the weeks and months ahead.
Traveling directly from the intervention itself to intake at an appropriate drug and alcohol rehab facility very soon after indicates that things went well and real change is underway. Willingly participating in medical detox, intensive counseling, recovery support groups and other early recovery efforts immediately following the intervention conclusively shows that genuine positive transformation is happening.
Lasting and permanent transformation occurs when the previously addicted individual can maintain sobriety even after the initial formal treatment program ends and transition back into normal life. Staying actively engaged in continuing aftercare such as ongoing counseling, recovery coaching, alumni support groups, 12-step communities or other forms of continuing care after rehab cements the gains made during intensive treatment and supports lasting recovery for the long haul.
Judging true effectiveness may require an experienced effective alcohol intervention or successful drug intervention specialist. They can assess initial progress and whether more efforts are still required.
Recovery takes many complex steps over years, starting with interventions. Learn about effective interventions. The goal is sparking lasting healing and change.