Spotting the Signs of Drug Addiction in Loved Ones

Helping a loved one struggling with any kind of addiction is difficult. Sometimes a heart-to-heart, direct conversation can start the road to recovery. However, when it comes to addiction, people with problems often have difficulty recognizing that they have a problem. A more intensive approach is often required. You may need to join forces with others to take action through formal intervention.

Examples of addictions that require intervention include: 

Alcohol use disorder. 

Prescription drug abuse. 

Street drug abuse. 

Compulsive eating.

Gambling addiction. 

People who suffer from addiction are often unable to accept their situation and do not seek treatment. You may not be able to accept the negative impact your actions have on yourself or others. 

Intervention gives your loved one a chance to make changes before the situation worsens. It’s also an opportunity to accept help. 

What is an intervention:

An intervention is a carefully planned process that family members and friends can carry out in collaboration with a doctor or other health care professional (such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor). Intervention specialists (also called interventionists) can also direct interventions. This may include members of your loved one’s faith community or people who care about someone struggling with addiction. 

During intervention, these people will confront your loved one, discuss the effects of the addiction, and ask them to accept treatment. 

Intervention: 

Examples of destructive behavior and how it affects loved ones, family, and friends with addiction. 

Provide a treatment plan with clear steps, goals, and guidelines.

Detail what each person will do if your loved one does not accept treatment. 

How a typical intervention works: 

An intervention usually involves the following steps: 

Make a plan: 

A family member or friend proposes an intervention and forms a planning group. To organize an effective intervention, it is best to work with qualified professionals such as counselors, addiction specialists, psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and interventionists. Interventions are very tense situations that can cause anger, resentment, or a sense of betrayal. 

Gather information: 

Group members will find out the extent of your loved one’s problem, research the causes of this problem and how to treat it. We may arrange for your loved one to enroll in a treatment program. 

Form the intervention team: 

The planning group forms the team that will participate in the intervention. Team members set a date and location and work together to present a rehearsed, consistent message and structured plan. Team members who are not family members often help keep discussions focused on the facts of the problem and shared solutions rather than strong emotional reactions. Do not let your loved one know what you are doing until the day of the intervention. 

Determine specific outcomes: 

If your loved one does not accept treatment, each person on your team must decide what action to take. For example, you might decide to ask a loved one to move.

Pay attention to what you say: 

Each member of the team describes a specific incident in which their addiction caused problems, such as emotional or financial problems. Be compassionate, talk about the harm your loved one’s behavior is causing, and feel like it can be changed. Your loved one cannot talk about the facts or your emotional reaction to the problem. For example, start an intervention meeting by saying, “When you  drank,you  felt upset and hurt…” Your loved one will be asked to intervene for their addiction without telling you why. Team members then take turns sharing their concerns and feelings. Your loved one will be presented with treatment options and asked to accept them on the spot. Each member of the team will explain what specific changes they will make if your loved one does not accept the plan. Don’t say you’ll do something unless you’re ready to take action. 

Follow-up: 

The involvement of spouses, family members, and others is key to ensuring addicts stay in treatment and don’t drop out. This may include changing daily patterns to help your loved one move away from destructive behaviors, encouraging your loved one to attend counseling, or seeking your own therapist or recovery support. 

This may include: There is. 

This includes what to do if you fall. 

Successful interventions must be carefully planned to ensure they work as planned. Improperly planned interventions can worsen the situation. Your loved one may feel attacked and isolated or become even more opposed to treatment. 

Work with addiction experts: 

Working with addiction experts, such as licensed alcohol and drug counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and interventionists, can help plan effective interventions.An addiction specialist will consider what is going on in your loved one’s life, suggest the best approach, and advise what type of treatment and follow-up plan will be most effective. 

Interventions are often performed without the involvement of an interventionist. However, it may be best to seek professional help. In some cases, interventions may be performed in specialized clinics.

It may be especially important to seek professional intervention to get things back on track if your loved one: 

Has a history of severe mental illness. 

Has a history of violence. 

Have you ever attempted suicide or talked about suicide recently

You may be taking mood-altering substances. 

Collaboration with experts is essential for successful intervention. This is especially true if you think your loved one might react violently or harm themselves. 

How do you find a treatment program to offer during intervention: 

An addiction specialist can help determine the scope of the problem and appropriate treatment options. Treatment options vary in intensity and scope and occur in a variety of settings. Options include short-term early intervention, outpatient treatment, or day treatment programs. More serious problems may require a structured program or stay in a treatment facility or hospital. 

Treatment may include counseling, education, vocational services, family services, and life skills training. For example, Mayo Clinic offers a variety of addiction services and takes a thorough team approach to treating addiction.

If you require a treatment program, it may be helpful to arrange it in advance. When conducting your research, keep the following points in mind: 

Seek advice from a trusted addiction specialist, physician, or mental health professional about the best treatment or program for your loved one. 

For treatment programs and advice, contact national organizations, trusted online support groups, or local clinics. 

It may be wise to have your loved one seek support from a group like Alcoholics Anonymous.

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