How To Stage An Alcohol Intervention

submitted: May 24th 2008 | by: ChrisChanning | Total views: 15 | Word Count: 544 | | |

Living life with a loved one who has a drinking problem can be one of the toughest experiences a person can face. You may be angered and frustrated when your numerous attempts to get them to stop drinking have been dismissed as you simply being a "party pooper". But when you know your family member, friend, or spouse is an alcoholic who simply can't listen to reason the last course of action might be to plan an intervention to get your loved one to finally get the picture.

The ultimate goal of an alcoholic intervention is to get the alcoholic to enter a treatment facility, hopefully willing to change their ways and live a sober life. If you aren't prepared to sacrifice time with the alcoholic in your life in order to get them healthy, then an intervention simply isn't the answer.

Who to Ask for Help

The first step to planning an intervention, perhaps the easiest step in the process, is to contact an alcohol abuse counselor and tell them your situation. Ask if they think an intervention is a wise course of action. Most counselors will be more than willing to preside over the intervention, make sure things don't get out of hand, and get the person you care about into a treatment facility as soon as possible. They will be there to give you advice, so don't be afraid to ask.

In the past, interventions for alcoholics were often similar to a cross between a surprise party and an ambush. This has led many alcoholics to simply deny that they have a problem and that the only problem is that everyone else has a problem with them drinking. It may be wise to notify the person with the alcohol problem that you have been speaking to a counselor several days in advance of the intervention, just so it does not come as a complete shock. Once again, if you are unsure how to communicate this to your alcoholic friend or family member, ask a substance abuse counselor for advice.

When intervening in the life of an alcoholic, one thing to consider is where the intervention will be held. A place you might not think to try is at the alcoholic's place of work. First, make sure that your friend or loved one's employer is on board with the idea of getting his employee sober. As with all things intervention, this can be a delicate subject to discuss, especially with someone who isn't in your circle of family and friends. Your counselor should be able to help you determine a proper intervention sit if you need help.

Of course, interventions are not always effective in convincing the alcoholic that the best course of action is for them to seek treatment. However, if you are genuinely concerned about the health of your loved one, then it may be the only option available.

With alcoholism, there is not any known cure, but there is treatment. Four weeks at a treatment facility is only part of a lifetime spent sober, and you must always think about what will happen if either the intervention or the treatment fail. Don't offer ultimatums that you don't plan on delivering on. Becoming properly prepared for failure is the key to success. Best of luck to you.

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