Before, During, and After an Intervention for an Alcoholic

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications for treating alcohol dependence, and others are being tested to determine whether they are effective. Some are surprised to learn that there are medications on the market approved to treat alcohol dependence. The newer types of these medications work by offsetting changes in the brain caused by AUD. Due to the anonymous nature of mutual-support groups, it is difficult for researchers to determine their success rates compared with those led by health professionals. Research shows that about one-third of people who are treated for alcohol problems have no further symptoms 1 year later. Many others substantially reduce their drinking and report fewer alcohol-related problems.

The decision, especially considering the damage that the person is doing to themselves in others, is hard. When it comes to alcoholism and drug dependence, it is not just the addict who suffers. The people who care about them are also affected by their actions.

Preparing others for the intervention

If the subject of the intervention knows they have support as they enter medical detox and a comprehensive rehabilitation program, they are more likely to agree to treatment. It’s important to have people you can talk honestly and openly with about what you’re going through. Turn to trusted friends, a support group, people in your faith community, or your own therapist. A good place to start is by joining a group such as Al-Anon, a free peer support group for families dealing with a loved one’s alcohol abuse.

Pay attention to your loved one when he or she is doing better or simply making an effort. Too often we are so angry or discouraged how to do an intervention for an alcoholic that we take it for granted when things are going better. A word of appreciation or acknowledgement of a success can go a long way.

What Not to Do at an Intervention

If you call the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to request an intervention, an addiction specialist will help you think carefully about whether the process is right for your family. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation does not have interventionists on staff, but we can provide you with information and contacts for professional intervention services. Families and friends may have to stage an intervention to convince a person with alcohol dependence that they have a problem. An intervention is a meeting in which you face your loved one and explain that you are concerned about their health and well-being. From this intervention, you can hopefully direct the addict toward a doctor, detox program, or support group that can help them face the realities of addiction and get on the path to recovery. Just as some people with diabetes or asthma may have flare-ups of their disease, a relapse to drinking can be seen as a temporary setback to full recovery and not a complete failure.

• You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible.
• Participating in an intervention means setting aside time not just for the act itself, but possibly for a rehearsal, and the time to come up with thoughtful things to say to the person.
• A successful intervention must be planned carefully to work as planned.

This is also helpful for the affected person because therapy can ensure that the family dynamic is healthy and that everyone knows how to proceed to minimize the chance of relapse. Each person will explain why they’re concerned, personally request that they attend treatment, and then reiterate how the disorder has and will impact their life and relationships if they don’t go. Interventions can be helpful by surrounding someone with their family, but a private conversation may be the better way to start.

Lifelong Journey

Total abstinence from alcohol is not always the goal of an intervention or treatment process. Some people will be able to learn selective drinking behaviors and remove themselves from an alcohol abuse cycle. However, giving up alcohol for good and accepting a life of sobriety is the only way some people are able to move past addiction.