Interventions: A Quick Overview

What Is An Intervention?

An intervention is an attempt to make a drug addicted or drug dependent person seek professional drug treatment. Interventions are most frequently done by close friends or family members. Intervention is most commonly used for drugs like alcohol and illegal substances, but can be used by family members to prompt an individual to seek help for different addictions or after a traumatic event in their life, like an earthquake or flood.

Are There Different Types of Intervention?

It needs to be emphasized that there is not a single type of intervention which can be done without an expert at hand. The intervention needs to be assessed by a mental health professional that can provide support for everyone inside the intervention.

The short answer is that yes, there are several different types of intervention, although only one has been popularized in mainstream culture from shows like 'intervention.' This model of intervention is called The Johnson Model. In this model, the family and close friends incite a confrontation with the user. The model states that most people whom are drug addicted or drug dependent are so deep in denial that they will not be able to see the consequences of their actions unless they are spelled out by those that the user cares about the most.

An indirect or invitational approach is, by nature, less confrontational than the Johnson model. These type of approaches encompass several different takes on intervention. For instance, under this model, families might be invited to partake in something called Systematic Family Intervention. This type of intervention means that the family will be invited to a retreat and speak to each other openly and honestly about everything while being educated about addiction and its consequences. The family will also be taught about particular substances and what their effects are. They will also be taught how these substances are tied into addiction. They will also be taught about the complex issue of addiction.

An A.R.I.S.E intervention also falls under the umbrella of the invitational approach. This intervention method claims to have over eighty percent of success getting users into treatment and tries to create a healing environment for users and their loved ones that can last up to ten months after the intervention is carried out.

How Do You Do An Intervention?

The most important step is to get in touch with a mental health professional. You could call drug addiction recovery centers around your area if you want to be pointed in the right direction. Again, an intervention is not a process that can be done alone: it needs to be done under the understanding and treatment of a psychologist or psychiatrist that has experience dealing with addiction issues and certainly interventions.

The interventionist will find the right way to approach your loved one with you after you discuss the circumstances and guide you and your loved ones through this difficult step in your journey towards recovery. He or she will also provide needed guidance and emotional support.