Four Common Mistakes People Make in Drug Interventions

Family members and loved ones often have interventions for their loved ones who suffer from drug addiction. Unfortunately, some problems arise with such interventions. There is no guarantee that the object of the intervention will seek drug rehab. However, the participants can increase the chances of the other person seeking help if they avoid these common errors:

Holding the Intervention at a Bad Time

Many problems that arise in interventions occur because the participants hold them at a bad time. An intervention should be conducted when the target person is in a relaxed state and ready to discuss his or her possible drug problems. Whoever coordinates the intervention should be sure to choose a time when the target individual isn’t overwhelmed with work, relationship problems, or severe financial emergencies. Those situations can cause stress, and then the person can get defensive and refuse to hear anything about drug rehab Denver services if that happens. 

Passing Judgment

One of the worst things to do in an intervention is to pass judgment on another person. People with drug addictions usually feel high levels of shame and embarrassment about their addictions. Further shaming someone who already feels shame will usually result in that person shutting down and not participating. Alternatively, the individual might have an angry response instead. That’s quite possible too. The best thing to do is to speak to the individual with love and gently tell the person what you’ve observed over the years about his or her behavior. Keep a neutral stance. You don’t have to coddle the person, but you don’t need to be overly harsh either. The individual probably already knows a problem exists. 

Making Strong Threats

Many people use interventions to threaten the targeted individuals. They may threaten to remove their love, support, housing, children, and other important people and items. It’s understandable that family members and friends want to do everything possible to try to get their loved ones to stop using drugs. However, it’s crucial not to make the wrong kind of ultimatum. This is a sensitive matter that can tip the addicted person to the wrong side of the scale rather quickly. The best thing to do is to use compassion and empathy when speaking to someone who is dealing with addictions. 

Being Non-Supportive

One thing that someone with a drug addiction needs a lot of is support. You can be a godsend to someone with such an addiction if you support that person with everything you have. Try your best to let the individual know that you will be there for him or her during the special time during which the individual is recovering. Your empathy may be crucial to that person’s recovery and healing. People tend to be more motivated to get help when they know they have loving individuals on their side to support them. 

Some interventions are quite successful, while others are sometimes problematic. Use the information above to ensure that you conduct a helpful intervention for someone you love. 

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