Drug and alcohol interventions in real life are rarely as simple as what you see on TV. They are emotionally charged, often unpredictable, and can bring up denial, anger, fear, and shame for everyone involved. An intervention is a structured conversation in which family, friends, or colleagues come together to encourage a person with a substance use problem to accept help and enter treatment.(Source)

Interventions typically happen at the beginning of the recovery process, when it’s clear that substance use is causing harm but the person is unwilling or unable to seek help on their own.(Source) Loved ones may notice serious changes in behavior, health, or safety and decide it’s time to act. Most interventions take place in a private, familiar setting such as the person’s home, but they can also be held in a therapist’s office or another neutral, safe location.

Because interventions are so emotionally intense, they should be carefully planned. Working with a professional alcohol and drug counselor—ideally a trained interventionist—can reduce the risk of the conversation turning into a confrontation that causes more harm than good.(Source) Without guidance, a person who is in deep denial about their drug or alcohol use may shut down, leave, or become verbally or physically aggressive.

At Cardinal Recovery, we have years of experience helping families plan and carry out interventions. Our team includes interventionists, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and support staff with extensive personal and professional experience in addiction and recovery. Many of us have been through interventions ourselves, either as the person struggling or as a loved one, so we understand the rage, resentment, fear, and, ultimately, the relief that can come when someone finally accepts help.

We work with you to:

• Clarify your goals for the intervention.
• Prepare what each person will say.
• Develop a clear treatment plan that can begin immediately if your loved one says yes.
• Plan how to respond if they refuse help.

The road to recovery often starts with a single, honest conversation. If you’re worried about someone’s drinking or drug use, you don’t have to figure this out alone. Email us or call (855) 928-1987 today for a confidential 15-minute assessment with a member of our team, and we’ll walk you through your options.