{"id":5466,"date":"2023-08-03T13:26:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-03T13:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/?page_id=5466"},"modified":"2025-02-07T12:08:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T12:08:08","slug":"intervention","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.floridarehab.com\/resources\/intervention\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Interventions & Getting Help with Substance Abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An intervention can encourage a person with an addiction or mental health issue to seek treatment so they can begin their journey toward recovery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a report<\/a> from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 21.2 million Americans needed addiction treatment in 2018, but only 11.1% of them received treatment at a facility specializing in addiction. The majority of people who didn\u2019t receive treatment felt they didn\u2019t actually need services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, people struggling with substance abuse will be reluctant to seek treatment and will not get the help they need. In these cases, friends and loved ones can approach them about their concerns in a drug or alcohol intervention<\/a> with the hope that they will seek treatment. During an intervention, friends and family come together to motivate someone to seek addiction treatment. Interventions may also be used for people with mental health disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an Intervention?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The term \u201cintervention\u201d is used widely to refer to a variety of medical procedures. In the mental health and addiction field, it\u2019s when family and friends work together to encourage a person with an addiction or mental illness to seek treatment. Typically, parents, siblings, spouses, significant others and close friends will participate in an intervention. Children can also take part if they are old enough and comfortable with participating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate goal is to get a person with an addiction and\/or mental health disorder to agree to go to treatment. An intervention may be necessary if someone has a serious addiction or mental health issue but is resistant to getting help. For example, your loved one may have lost control over alcohol use but denies that it\u2019s a problem. In this case, friends and family may plan an intervention, express their concern, and motivate them to get help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Interventions Work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Interventions typically involve concerned family members working with a trained interventionist to develop a plan and learn what they can do to help their loved one. Then, the family and loved ones hold a meeting with the person to discuss their desire for them to seek treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During an intervention meeting, loved ones share how the person\u2019s addiction or mental illness has negatively affected them. There is a discussion about seeking and attending treatment. Loved ones often present a list of consequences the person can expect if they choose not to enter treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The person with the addiction may understandably be upset or resistant. It is important to remain on task and committed to the intervention, even if it causes difficult emotions or reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Write An Intervention Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many guides<\/a> about what to say during an intervention recommend using an intervention letter. You can choose to read your letter aloud at the meeting, give it to the person to read or just have a few talking points ready for the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your letter should come from a place of love and concern and communicate to your loved one that the situation is serious and treatment is necessary. Avoid being hurtful or shaming them. Instead, list the ways that addiction has negatively affected you and your loved one. Your letter should also include a list of consequences your loved one can expect if they decline treatment. Prepare to stick to these consequences, as that consistency will be vital after the intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real Life Interventions vs. Intervention TV<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Real-world interventions may be different from what is depicted on TV. For example, TV interventions are typically dramatized for entertainment purposes; this may involve family members chasing down the person or forcing them into treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a real-life intervention, people aren\u2019t forced into treatment the way they might be on TV. Interventions on TV focus on \u201cshock value,\u201d as this increases views. A real-life intervention is usually meant to be more gentle and loving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, TV interventions involve a surprise meeting where a person faces the need to go to treatment. In real life, there are different types of intervention, and many of them do not involve any surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Interventions & Intervention Methods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An intervention plan may use one of the following common methods: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n