How many times have you heard someone being described as a "hopeless" or "serious" alcoholic or drug addict, with the implication that there isn't much that can be done about it? When is this disease or the person who suffers from it really hopeless? Often those with alcohol or chemical addiction are written off.
If you think there's no hope, consider intervention.
As Debra Jay has said in her famous book, Love First, when facilitated by highly skilled professionals, intervention is an act of love by family and friends.
Professional interventionists do most of their work up front with family and any other participants, so that the actual intervention is a well-orchestrated event.
Usually an intervention is staged with letters of love and concern that are read aloud to the individual by family and/or friends.
It can be an extremely difficult choice to admit chemical or alcohol addiction and accept help because denial is symptomatic of the disease.
The intervention is an emotional event, and does not always result in acceptance of help.
But a successful intervention may be lifesaving.
The loved one usually leaves for residential treatment that day, with travel and treatment arrangements made ahead of time.
An intervention should never be shaming or disrespectful, and this is especially important with an older adult, for whom the words "addict" or "alcoholic" can sound like a moral indictment.
Instead the loved one hears about how much he/she is loved, how concerned everyone is, and that there is hope for his recovery.
Perhaps most important, the person realizes that the family is really serious about getting him into treatment.
Why don't families seek professional intervention help more often? The very fact that there is something that family and friends can actually do to help their loved one is not well understood.
Physicians may misdiagnose addiction, and be hesitant to bring up the subject.
Sometimes a trusted physician can recommend treatment and the advice is followed, especially in the case of older adults.
But professional intervention may be necessary to help the entire family move out of crisis.
Intervention: what and when Intervention is now a valuable recovery tool, and became a recognized profession in the 1960's.
Dr.
Vernon Johnson founded the "Johnson Model of Interventions" and started to counsel families and companies about the role of professional intervention in getting addicted people into appropriate treatment.
The Johnson Institute set the standard at the time, and remains a powerful force in recovery through advocacy.
Today we realize that interventions must always be based in compassion, love and concern.
Addressing the subject yourself: how to help How can you share your concerns about an adult friend or family member about his/her alcohol or chemical dependency? There are several things to keep in mind: o Bring up the subject when the person is clean and sober o Consider meeting on neutral territory, and plan the meeting ahead of time o Always express concern and care, not anger or blame o Speak with respect for the individual o Do not attempt gestures such as dumping out the person's alcohol bottles; the alcoholic will always be able to replace them o Don't threaten or make moralistic judgments o Suggest concern related to the person's well being and some symptoms you've noticed, such as missing work, numerous falls and bruises, consequences in relation to others o Recommend the person have an evaluation; suggest resources for this and offer to help When attempts at discussion are thwarted and/or you feel the loved one is in danger, consider professional intervention.
Although it is not recommended, families sometimes try to do an intervention on their own.
Because those who suffer from addictions are usually in denial, they are apt to become defensive and the ensuing dynamics can create pain and chaos for the entire family.
As the "intervention" progresses, the family dynamics become even more deeply strained.
Older adults particularly feel stigmatized by anything related to "drunk" or addict.
" Because older adults find "addiction" shameful, and medical conditions are so prevalent among these older adults, conversations with them should include their medical conditions, and then relate these concerns to their alcohol or medication abuse.
What is your Bottom Line, or ways in which you are no longer willing to enable your loved one in his/her addiction? During the intervention, the seriousness of the ultimatum may be expressed in a way the loved one can understand.
It's presented by a united front, guided by a professional, and describes the impact of the person's addiction.
Anyone who will either deny the addiction or shows active hostility towards the addict should not participate.
The descent into addiction is wrenching for both family members and the addict.
Perhaps the person has repeatedly struggled with quitting, but has not been able to and has refused help.
Severe consequences of addiction may include DWIs, arrest, divorce and shattered careers, lost friendships and deteriorating health.
There just isn't any upside to addiction.
And family members survive in a dysfunctional, harmful family system.
Think about your bottom line.
Your loved one's life and your own health and quality of life may be at stake.
If you think there's no hope, consider intervention.
As Debra Jay has said in her famous book, Love First, when facilitated by highly skilled professionals, intervention is an act of love by family and friends.
Professional interventionists do most of their work up front with family and any other participants, so that the actual intervention is a well-orchestrated event.
Usually an intervention is staged with letters of love and concern that are read aloud to the individual by family and/or friends.
It can be an extremely difficult choice to admit chemical or alcohol addiction and accept help because denial is symptomatic of the disease.
The intervention is an emotional event, and does not always result in acceptance of help.
But a successful intervention may be lifesaving.
The loved one usually leaves for residential treatment that day, with travel and treatment arrangements made ahead of time.
An intervention should never be shaming or disrespectful, and this is especially important with an older adult, for whom the words "addict" or "alcoholic" can sound like a moral indictment.
Instead the loved one hears about how much he/she is loved, how concerned everyone is, and that there is hope for his recovery.
Perhaps most important, the person realizes that the family is really serious about getting him into treatment.
Why don't families seek professional intervention help more often? The very fact that there is something that family and friends can actually do to help their loved one is not well understood.
Physicians may misdiagnose addiction, and be hesitant to bring up the subject.
Sometimes a trusted physician can recommend treatment and the advice is followed, especially in the case of older adults.
But professional intervention may be necessary to help the entire family move out of crisis.
Intervention: what and when Intervention is now a valuable recovery tool, and became a recognized profession in the 1960's.
Dr.
Vernon Johnson founded the "Johnson Model of Interventions" and started to counsel families and companies about the role of professional intervention in getting addicted people into appropriate treatment.
The Johnson Institute set the standard at the time, and remains a powerful force in recovery through advocacy.
Today we realize that interventions must always be based in compassion, love and concern.
Addressing the subject yourself: how to help How can you share your concerns about an adult friend or family member about his/her alcohol or chemical dependency? There are several things to keep in mind: o Bring up the subject when the person is clean and sober o Consider meeting on neutral territory, and plan the meeting ahead of time o Always express concern and care, not anger or blame o Speak with respect for the individual o Do not attempt gestures such as dumping out the person's alcohol bottles; the alcoholic will always be able to replace them o Don't threaten or make moralistic judgments o Suggest concern related to the person's well being and some symptoms you've noticed, such as missing work, numerous falls and bruises, consequences in relation to others o Recommend the person have an evaluation; suggest resources for this and offer to help When attempts at discussion are thwarted and/or you feel the loved one is in danger, consider professional intervention.
Although it is not recommended, families sometimes try to do an intervention on their own.
Because those who suffer from addictions are usually in denial, they are apt to become defensive and the ensuing dynamics can create pain and chaos for the entire family.
As the "intervention" progresses, the family dynamics become even more deeply strained.
Older adults particularly feel stigmatized by anything related to "drunk" or addict.
" Because older adults find "addiction" shameful, and medical conditions are so prevalent among these older adults, conversations with them should include their medical conditions, and then relate these concerns to their alcohol or medication abuse.
What is your Bottom Line, or ways in which you are no longer willing to enable your loved one in his/her addiction? During the intervention, the seriousness of the ultimatum may be expressed in a way the loved one can understand.
It's presented by a united front, guided by a professional, and describes the impact of the person's addiction.
Anyone who will either deny the addiction or shows active hostility towards the addict should not participate.
The descent into addiction is wrenching for both family members and the addict.
Perhaps the person has repeatedly struggled with quitting, but has not been able to and has refused help.
Severe consequences of addiction may include DWIs, arrest, divorce and shattered careers, lost friendships and deteriorating health.
There just isn't any upside to addiction.
And family members survive in a dysfunctional, harmful family system.
Think about your bottom line.
Your loved one's life and your own health and quality of life may be at stake.