Alcohol Freedom Blog

When it comes to alcohol addiction some people can save themselves and seek the treatment necessary to live a great life of recovery. Other people are able to control their drinking on their own and continue to function normally in their daily lives like problem drinking was never a question. These are the lucky ones.

There is a segment of problem drinkers that should be categorized as abusive drinkers whose excessive drinking is not only affecting their lives but the lives of their loved ones as well. These individuals are in need of treatment quickly and unfortunately lack the emotional wherewithal to help themselves.

An option being utilized more often than ever before is when loved ones try and help them see that they are in trouble and need help immediately.

This Is The Shock And Awe Of Intervention.

Often, an alcoholic intervention is the only way family and friends can convince a loved one to get the help that is so urgently needed. This is no easy task and requires preparation and commitment by all those who attend the session. It is not an easy thing to take part in since the alcoholic can become belligerent and unruly. An alcoholic storming out is not unheard of in these situations so a plan must be in place for such an occurrence.

Families that agree to take part in an intervention must remember that they are confronting someone they perceive as a problem drinker but the actual depth of alcoholism may in fact be much worse than even they suspected. If that is the case they may be in for some ugly truths. Each person that attends must have the alcoholics respect and love. Someone attending who has it in for the drinker for other reasons than besides the alcohol abuse will only derail the proceedings likely before it even gets rolling.

It’s a Team Effort

It’s critical that everyone is prepared for their role in the meeting and knows when to speak up and to stay silent. The impact each person will have on the alcoholic must be orchestrated to the greatest advantage for success. The concerned parent speaks when the impact will be felt most. The loving sister must speak out when it will do the most good. The angry wife must level her ultimatums if and when the time is right. Everyone will have a chance to speak to the alcoholic and they must be honest with them.

When discussing who will participate in the intervention, if someone is unsure about being there or is not totally buying into the plan then they must be cut from the process. The person most likely to display resistance to the plan is probably an enabler of the alcoholic you’re trying to help. They may be so close to the alcoholic that they feel what’s being planned is mean spirited and/or unfair. They let their strong love for the excessive drinker overpower their good judgment.

This person should be removed from these proceedings and presented with some intervention or alcoholic treatment literature to read. They could also be asked to write a list of the number of times in their recent memory when they knew the alcoholic was drunk in their presence. They need to understand just how badly this person needs help. If later they show that they now “get it” perhaps they can be included again if it’s felt their attendance will be helpful

Preparing for the Intervention

Everyone who will be attending the intervention should write up a one page document explaining to the alcoholic how their drinking has affected them in particular and everyone around him. They must emphasize why it is so important that the alcoholic quit drinking and seek treatment.

Interventions normally take place on controlled neutral ground where the alcoholic will feel comfortable yet the group is empowered. A concerned employer can arrange it so it happens privately at the workplace. Perhaps in a school attended by the troubled addict. The timing and arrival must be arranged by a trusted party to the drinker. This person may indeed suffer the fallout of a failed intervention.

Sometimes the best route for an intervention is to use a professional counselor trained in these methods that can control the proceedings and keep them grounded. They should be a requirement if the alcoholic has shown violent tendencies or suffers from mental illness. Prearranged admittance to a rehab facility should be set up so if and when the alcoholic agrees to get help they can start their treatment immediately.

Interventions are a last resort for some families of problem drinkers and ultimatums should be given to the alcoholic as a consequence of their failure to comply.

The jury is still out on the effectiveness of interventions and their long term affect on the family if it fails. Even a failed intervention can have a positive effect if it puts the alcoholic on notice that people close to them care deeply and would rather they not hit rock bottom. If it succeeds there could still be resentment in the future but at least the alcoholic will have survived. These uncovered issues can be worked on at a later date when ALL the parties concerned are sober.

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