Tips for Holding a Drug-Addiction Intervention

When someone is struggling with a drug addiction, his or her family can be left feeling powerless. In actuality, the family does have options available to help save an addicted relative. An intervention held by the family can often be the push that someone needs to seek out help at a drug-rehabilitation center. If you are planning an intervention, here are some tips for holding a successful one.  

Be Detailed in the Intervention Letter

Before the intervention, each family member and friend participating needs to compose a letter to the addicted relative. The letter is an opportunity to express love for the addict while pointing out why it is important that he or she receives professional help to overcome the addiction.  

In the letter, it is important that details and examples are used to convey just how big of an impact your relative's addiction has been to family and friends. For instance, instead of stating that your loved one is no longer trustworthy, cite incidents that proved he or she was not. Saying things like, "You stole my rent money from my purse to buy drugs," is more effective than making general statements.  

Do not just focus on how the addiction has impacted the family, though. You also need to talk about how your loved one's addiction is impacting his or her own life.  

In addition to these details, you need to let your loved one know what you expect him or her to do. Avoid being vague. Offer help to him or her and ask your loved one to accept it.  

Choose an Effective Order of Speakers

The order in which each family member or friend is allowed to read his or her letter matters. It is important to remember that the goal is to save your loved one's life. You and the other participants may have to leverage your loved one's relationships with each person to get him or her to agree to treatment.  

For instance, if the family feels that your loved one's mother would make the most emotional impact, try to place her near the end of the intervention. After listening to everyone else, the mother's plea might be the push needed for your loved one to accept help. 

Prior to the intervention, take time and rehearse. During the rehearsal, you might find that rearranging the order of the speakers might make a bigger impact.  

Convincing your loved one that he or she needs to seek help at a drug-rehab center can take time and effort, but in the end, you and your family could be saving your loved one's life.