Function and purpose of drug alcohol intervention

In the simplest of terms, the function and purpose for conducting drug alcohol intervention is the deliberate introduction of change to a person’s behavior, feelings, or thoughts. One of the first things you need to be aware of is the fact that strong emotions are typically attached to any type of drug alcohol intervention, especially where alcohol and drug addiction is concerned. Interventions are characterized by several individuals that typically attend this type of event. These oftentimes include the following:

• the addicted individual
• the intervention professional or specialist
• immediate family members (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.)
• personal friends
• concerned fellow employees

The history of drug alcohol intervention

Vernon Johnson, an Episcopalian priest and recovering alcoholic, is considered to be the father of modern drug alcohol intervention. Johnson wound up devoting his life to alcohol addiction treatment and recovery. From his work, further fine-tuning of the intervention process was done to accommodate a variety of addictions besides alcohol and drugs. Some other addictions that may require a drug alcohol intervention:

• Addictions to pornography
• Computer and/or video game addictions
• Gambling addictions
• Behavioral disorders

Johnson’s core beliefs about drug alcohol intervention was being able to reach out to the addicted individual before he or she hit rock bottom therefore preventing their lives from literally being torn to shreds. He began conducting what he called “interventions” in his church as of 1962. These were informal meetings which involved the addicted individual’s family, friends, and even their fellow co-workers. They all met together in order to talk to the individual regarding their concerns about their alcohol (or drug) addiction, self-destructive behavior, and the damage it was causing the other individuals participating in the drug alcohol intervention, hence the birth of the terminology “family intervention.” As a result of being a priest and the fact that these interventions produced positive results, Johnson created a network which saw his program spread throughout the Midwest and eventually the entire US.

choosing the right drug alcohol intervention

We know that choosing the right drug alcohol intervention to help you and the suffering individual is not always an easy task. There are a lot of choices out there and not every one of these will suit the needs of the individual in question. The important thing to realize is that an intervention conducted by a certified and trained professional is successful 96% of the time when it comes to getting the addicted individual to admitting to a problem and then doing something about it in order to help themselves. One of our trained professionals will be more than willing to answer any questions that you may have.

What is drug alcohol intervention? Intervention Definition in our words….drug alcohol intervention is the process wherein family members, fellow employees, friends, and loved ones, under the supervision of an interventionist, confront an individual about their addiction and destructive behavior that impacts them emotionally, mentally, and physically. The ultimate goal of the intervention is that the addicted individual come to grips with their problems and seeks out help for it by entering a treatment and recovery facility.

Team member requirements to consider

There are certain goals that the team members involved in drug alcohol intervention need to be aware of, but the foremost consideration is the fact that they need to know how to tell the addicted individual how their self-destructive behavior has affected them personally. And they need to do this calmly, kindly, and with love if they have any hope of reasoning with the individual.

Watching a person self-destruct can be very painful

When your family member, friend, or loved one is dealing with an addiction issue, whether it is a substance addiction problem, or other type of addiction (eating, gambling, pornography, etc., it may be time to consult with a licensed professional at drug alcohol intervention in order to seek out help for the suffering individual. Watching a person self-destruct by virtue of these can be very painful, and no matter what you do, sometimes it just isn’t enough. If an intervention is required, you might want to consider talking with one of our staff members to find out the best course of action.