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What
is an Intervention?
An intervention is a caring, deliberate,
and well-conceived event, through which people who care
express their concern. It is a safe and intentional
opportunity for them to reflect back to their loved one
the ramifications of his or her behavior on themselves and
others, and to present a plan to change and get help in
ways that will address the causes and alleviate the
suffering of all involved. With the skilled assistance of
an interventionist, the experience creates the opportunity
to interrupt destructive patterns of living or deal
constructively with a crisis situation.
Hale-Ola
provides intervention services for families and
individuals who are struggling with addiction,
alcoholism and other forms of crisis. Their
intervention services include adult, and executive
interventions, as well as transport services and
crisis interventions. At Hale-Ola they believe that
drug and alcohol abuse can be overcome by facing the
problem head on, in a caring but firm manner. Once a
successful intervention has occurred their staff
continues to support family and friends throughout the
rehabilitation process. While confronting denial can
be an extremely sensitive and difficult course of
action, it is a necessary step in the process toward
recovery. Hale-Ola is committed to
individualized, loving and successful drug and alcohol
interventions.
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To set up a time for an initial
consultation please call today to set up an appointment.
Call (808) 988-0800
Quick Guide to Intervention
The word "Intervention" is commonly
misunderstood. Our Intervention Quick Guide was created to
help clarify the term intervention - and to offer
information on how to go about conducting one.
So, what is an "Intervention"?
Talking to the person you're concerned
about is called an "intervention". There are two types of
interventions - informal and formal.
An informal
intervention means having a personal discussion with the person you're
concerned about. This could be as simple as asking a few
questions or making a couple of observations.
A formal intervention
means having a
structured conversation with the person. This involves
bringing together a group of people with the substance
user to explore how his or her use has affected all their
lives. The formal intervention is usually used when the
person has repeatedly refused to get help.
The point of any intervention is to ask
the person to take concrete steps to address the problem
and lead them to the help they need (i.e. go for an
evaluation, attend counseling, enter in- or out-patient
treatment.)
The key thing is not to wait for your
loved one to "bottom out," have a car crash or develop
some serious health problem before you address your
concerns. Do
something now.
Remember,
addiction is treatable.
And there are sensitive, trained healthcare providers who
can help you decide how to proceed.
In any intervention - informal or formal -
it's important to approach your loved one when he or she
is not high or drunk - and when you're not deeply upset.
Here are some additional tips:
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Stay calm
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Couch your comments in concern
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Avoid labeling the person an "alcoholic"
or "addict"
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Cite specific incidents resulting from
the person's substance abuse
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("You were recently arrested for DWI.")
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Stick to what you know firsthand, not
hearsay
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Talk in "I statements," explaining how
the person's behavior has
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affected you ("When you drive drunk, I
don't sleep all night.")
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Be prepared for denial and resentment
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Be supportive and hopeful about change
What Are the Necessary Steps for a Formal
Intervention?
A formal or structured intervention is a
group meeting designed to help the substance user
understand the problem and the need to take action and
seek treatment.
The first step
in a formal intervention is to gather all
the significant people in a substance user's life,
such as immediate and extended family members, physicians,
friends, employers, coworkers, religious advisors,
neighbors - anyone who can describe the physical and
emotional changes and damages they see and experience.
Next this group meets with a
professional,
such as a family therapist or substance use counselor, to
learn how to express their concern in a constructive way.
The professional educates them about what to expect during
the intervention and afterwards, and how they can organize
their comments to avoid blaming and to increase the chance
that the person will hear their messages.
Then, the group of concerned individuals
and their professional guide meet with the
substance user for a conversation.
They express caring and concern, presenting facts about
the impact that the substance use has had on them. They
convey that they are unwilling to continue to overlook the
damage that substance use is having on the person in need
and on many others. They press the person to admit that a
substance use problem exists and that it is causing many
other problems.
The goal of an
intervention is
to get the person to agree to get help (attend a treatment
program) immediately. Just promising to stop is considered
an unacceptable outcome. Participants must clearly spell
out the consequences each will impose if the person
refuses treatment. These types of ultimatums can have
life-shattering implications, which is why including a
professional guide is so important.
10 Tips for a Formal Intervention
Goal: to have the person begin treatment
immediately.
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Enlist a professional to help plan the
intervention.
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Bring together the people most
significant to the user (3 to 6 is best, no children) -
the people who are concerned and who have clout with him
or her. Only include people who are comfortable with the
process.
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Have a plan - decide who is going to say
what.
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Make all arrangements for the person to
begin treatment immediately following the intervention.
Know the insurance details and which hospital or
treatment facility.
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Identify the objections you might hear
from the substance user and be prepared to answer each
one.
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Decide what consequences you're prepared
to follow through with if the person refuses to enter
treatment. For a teenager, it might be: "We will file a
petition with the court to have you placed in
treatment." For a spouse: "I will no longer cover up for
you," or even: "I won't remain in this relationship with
you."
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Be prepared to follow through with these
consequences if treatment is refused.
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Tell the person that you care about him
or her but explain what you are concerned about. Bring a
list of examples. Be truthful and clear. Example: We
love you very much, but…
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Rehearse the intervention at least once.
Know your roles.
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Get a commitment from the person that
they're willing to get help and get them there
immediately.
Mandating Treatment
The vast majority of people who enter
substance abuse treatment do so because of external
pressure. Research has shown that required, or mandated,
treatment is an effective motivator. Keep in mind that
involuntary treatment can work just as well as voluntary
treatment.
Why would people change if they are being
forced? Wouldn't they change faster if they sought
treatment voluntarily? Perhaps. But by mandating
treatment, people are left with a choice: enter treatment,
or lose something important to them. For example:
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Individuals arrested for driving while
intoxicated may be ordered by the court to attend a
driver education program and receive weekly counseling
to avoid jail and keep their driver's license.
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Mothers whose ability to care for their
children is compromised due to substance use disorders
may be required to attend treatment so their children
are not placed in foster care.
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Employees found using substances on the
job may be required to attend substance abuse treatment
or lose their job.
The threat of losing important
relationships, good health, or reputation may motivate
some to enter treatment, even if they are not enthusiastic
about doing so. For this reason, the person in need should
clearly hear that friends and family members will lose
trust, respect, and even regular contact if the substance
use continues.
What About Requiring Abstinence?
Some families tell the person to stop all
drinking and drug use. However, complying can be difficult
-uncontrollable alcohol or other drug craving, seeking,
and use is the hallmark of addiction. If you decide to
give an ultimatum, require treatment, not abstinence.
People who engage in treatment will be better able to
achieve abstinence, because they will be given the medical
attention and emotional support they need to maintain
abstinence over the long term.
What About People Who Recover Without
Going to Treatment?
While treatment is not absolutely
necessary for recovery, a person's ability to recover
without treatment varies widely. Some people use prayer,
self-help groups, active church participation, the power
of example, or a very supportive employer or group of
friends to recover. Others don't have the same network or
life philosophy. A health care professional or substance
use counselor will be able to help you make treatment
decisions.
What If My Loved One Relapses?
Since addiction is a chronic disease,
relapses
do occur. If
this happens, don't lose hope. A relapse doesn't mean that
the person isn't trying, or that his/her recovery is
"failing." The majority of people with addictions who are
in recovery suffer at least one relapse along the way.
If relapse occurs, get back in touch with
the professional or self-help group that you've worked
with in the past, and prepare to intervene again. But
remember, ultimately you are not in control of whether
your loved one stays in recovery. You can only control how
you react to his or her behavior - and how you conduct
your own life.
Intervention Resources
For more information about formal
interventions, or to find someone who can help you,
contact Hale-Ola at 1-808-988-0800
[Sources: Mary Ann Amodeo, Ph.D., Join
Together, Herbert D. Kleber, M.D., and "Moyers on
Addiction: How to Approach an Intervention" by Donna
Boundy
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