Staging an Intervention for Addiction

So many of the calls we receive at The Providence Projects are from distraught family members who are not only watching their loved one self-destruct but are also struggling to cope with living with the nightmare of addiction or alcoholism. Very commonly the person with the problem is either, in denial about the severity of the issue, frightened to deal with the problem, or sometimes simply accepting that this is the way their life is.

As a friend or family member this can be both frustrating and terrifying. The combination of having to live with addiction and all the lies that go with it and living with the fear that someone you love is ultimately going to die is draining and unsustainable. Most family members we speak to have tried everything from making threats, hiding bottles, restricting finance, trying to understand, shouting, guilt trips and much more and have found that ultimately none of these methods have been successful. They have tried to encourage the person with the addiction to go to rehab or seek help but this has never been followed through.

If this sounds like your experience and your loved one is refusing to get help or you are doubtful they will go to rehab then Intervention may be for you.

What Is an Intervention?

Intervention is a proven successful process that has enabled many people to receive treatment for drug or alcohol addiction when they have refused to seek help for themselves. It is based on the belief that it is not necessary for that person to reach a level from which they may not come back when a well prepared and organised group of family and friends can overcome any objections to obtaining the help required.

We, at the Providence Project, have treated many people over a number of years who have come to us a result of a family intervention. Our experience supports the findings of research in this field that those entering treatment through this method had very similar success rates to those who accessed our facility of their own volition. We have found that the guidance of an experienced Interventionist greatly increases the chance of success and we have a close working relationship with some of the country’s leading exponents in the field.

The Interventionist will meet with the members of the family and the friends who will take part in the intervention. He will, through his experience, be able to guide them on what to expect when dealing with a person in the grip of their addiction. He will attempt to anticipate any objection the addict may have and help the family overcome that addiction. Of huge importance in the intervention will be the letter to be written, and read aloud on the day. Although this will contain the personal feelings of the writer there are certain requirements that an experienced interventionist will point out that will significantly improve the chances of success.

Only when the intervention has been prepared to the best possible level will it then take place. At that stage, it is important that a place is available for admission at our centre to avoid inappropriate delays. We will work closely with the interventionist during the period leading up to the day so that we can make sure that a place is available.

Does an intervention work?

Success rates of intervention are far higher than you would expect.  Most families, when hearing how an intervention works, are fearful that it won’t work for them. This fear is usually based on their experience of failed attempts. Families usually try a variety of techniques including making threats, guilt trips, begging and pleading.  These generally don’t work and in fact just reinforce addiction within the family.

Families try all of the above because they are desperate.  They have had enough of the situation and desperately want change.  They will try anything but nothing seems to change. Addiction is an illness which requires professional help.  It has been proven that if families seek help and support for themselves and agree on a united plan of action with the interventionist, the alcoholic or addict will accept help. At The Providence Projects, we have seen interventions work on countless occasions.  Families are often astounded on how smooth the process is after having failed for many years to get their loved one to accept help.

There are a variety of intervention methods we can use and generally we use either The Arise or Johnson Model. To find out more about these approaches, and whether intervention is appropriate for your situation, please contact us today and ask for Paul Spanjar who will talk you through the intervention process.

Overcoming Denial

So many people say that unless the addict or alcoholic wants help, they are doomed and will be unable to get better.  In fact, some people go further and say that unless they want to stop for themselves, it will not work. We have some good news for you! These statements are false.  Over the last 25+ years, clients have come to rehab at The Providence Projects for a variety of reasons.  Some to save marriages, some to save jobs, some because they wanted to avoid a drink drive charge, some to keep their children happy and the list goes on…..

Very often, the addicted individual does not want help for a variety of reasons.  It is important to remember that denial is a huge part of addiction.  In fact, in many ways, it is not addiction that kills, but denial. The person with the problem may deny the problem because of fear, because of low self-esteem or simply to protect themselves.  With the right help, a professional approach, and 20 years of experience we can help you, the family, get through to the individual. The success rates of our interventions are very high.  Clients who come to us as a result of an intervention do just as well in treatment as those who came here of their own accord.

Advice for the family

If you are the family member of the ‘addict’ or ‘alcoholic’ that you think requires rehab, it can be incredibly painful to watch your loved one slowly destroy the family and often kill themselves. As you have probably discovered there is a lack of information and a lack of support for you. There are many different opinions as to what the best course of action is. Here is a list of suggestions:

• Family Issues
• Maintain your boundaries. Remember that you are also an important person who deserves love and respect.
• Do not neglect yourself or allow yourself to be treated like a doormat.
• Do not make hollow threats. It is important that you stick to your word.
• Encourage all attempts to seek help.

At The Providence Projects, family therapy is an intrinsic part of our programmes. We actively encourage family members to get involved as research clearly demonstrates family involvement improves the chance of success.

How much does an intervention cost?

The Providence Projects fees for intervention are charged at a flat hourly rate of £125. It is not always possible to predict exactly how many hours the intervention will take and it may depend on a variety of factors including how many people are involved in the process, the level of preparation required and the level of support the family may require.

Undoubtedly, good preparation is the key to successful intervention. With the right preparation and a skilled interventionist, the chance of getting the desired result is very high. Including all preparation, a practice run and the intervention itself, the number of hours usually involved in an intervention from beginning to completion is usually between 12 and 20 hours meaning that the total cost of intervention will be between £1500 and £2500. If you would like to discuss your situation or find out how much an intervention for your particular situation is likely to cost, please call us and ask for Paul Spanjar.