Overcoming Drug Addiction with an Intervention

Is a friend, family member, co-worker, or someone else in your life suffering from an addiction to prescription medication (Vicodin, Xanax, Oxycontin) or an illegal substance (cocaine, heroin, marijuana)? Although the problem may seem blatantly obvious to you, a troubling reality that often characterizes addiction is the inability to recognize or accept one’s lack of control over one’s behavior. At the expense of their relationships, careers, finances, and even physical health, addicts allow their priorities to shift and make acquisition of the substance(s) their primary goal. 

Although individuals experiment with drugs without becoming addicted for a host of reasons—including curiosity, social pressure, depression, or competitiveness—the possible causes of drug addiction can include environment, genetics, or a combination of these. However, the solution to chemical dependence quite frequently follows a similar trajectory for many addicts. Although some addicts are lucky enough to have insight into the addiction and seek help on their own, many others only pursue treatment after family and friends send a clear, unified message during a drug intervention.

What is a drug intervention?

Interventions for substance abuse (including drug interventions and alcohol interventions) can be either informal or formal. Family and friends may try and convince their loved one that something is terribly wrong. In a formal intervention, a professional interventionist is present.

Do we really need to hire an intervention professional?

There are a number of benefits to having the help of an experienced counselor during this process. An interventionist will help the participants prepare to confront the addict, make recommendations about residential drug rehab programs, guide the intervention, and provide grounded, rational counterarguments to the addict’s excuses for not getting help. Consider that the cost of an interventionist is often a better use of the money that’s currently being spent on the addiction.

When should a drug intervention occur?

A commonly held belief about interventions is that they will not be effective unless the addict has hit “rock bottom.” However, interventions can – and should – occur as early as possible to spare the addict prolonged suffering from the addiction, if possible.

References

National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2008. Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction.  Retrieved July 13, 2010, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/addiction.html.