WORKING WITH AN INTERVENTIONIST

Substance disorders is not an isolated issue. The Bureau of Justice reports that 46 percent of the population has reported using illicit drugs at least once. If drug and/or alcohol use is interfering with the life of someone close to you, it is important to understand that addiction is a chronic disease that affects not only the brain but also the central nervous system. As a result of psychological and physical dependency, the individual is typically unable to voluntarily stop using the substance on his or her own. When addicted individuals are confronted by loved ones, they commonly respond with denial.

A professional drug interventionist can assist you in orchestrating a meeting comprised of people closest to the individual to try to help the person seek treatment.

Everything that takes place within an intervention is facilitated and supervised by a professional interventionist. One of the ways the interventionist can assist is by preventing a breakdown of communication.

The interventionist will often meet with family members and friends of the affected individual prior to the intervention. During this preliminary meeting, the entire group will work together to design an approach. This may include preparing individual letters that detail personal experiences or describe pain that has been caused by the addiction.