Individuals who are suffering from substance use, abuse, dependency, or even addiction may not be aware that they have a problem. If nothing else, they may not be aware of the scope and severity of their problem, or of how much it is affecting those around them. People who can be affected by substance use, abuse, dependency, or addiction include immediate family members, other relatives, friends, and coworkers. These people may be concerned about the individual who is a substance abuser, but they may not know how to help. A drug intervention is one way these people can try to address the problem.
A drug intervention occurs when people other than the individual suffering from substance use, abuse, dependency, or addiction get together and inform that individual of their concerns. This kind of meeting can be had with any number of people involved, or it could be a one on one meeting with the individual substance abuser and his or her closest family member. This kind of meeting can also cover many different topics. Sometimes it may be enough to simply voice concerns; other times there may be suggestions for immediate treatment.
Once a person or group of people has decided to perform a drug intervention, it is important that it be planned very carefully. It is important to try to make the meeting as comfortable as possible for the person who is the substance abuser. It is also important that the meeting be geared towards only one or two specific goals, and that all the people participating agree on what those goals are. If more than one person will be participating, it may be helpful to designate one person as the spokesperson for the group.
A drug intervention may be an effective means of encouraging a person suffering from substance use, abuse, dependency, or addiction to change his or her ways. In the best case scenario, a drug intervention may even be the impetus that person needs to seek help with their substance abuse problem. This kind of tactic can also help the other people in the substance abuser’s life. It can make them feel that they are meaningfully participating in positive action on behalf of the substance abuser.
