Interventions. Fill me in, please.
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bklyn. NY
Posts: 1,859
Interventions. Fill me in, please.
Was out with a few people about a week ago, and the subject of interventions came up. One of the people present said, "they never work". I was surprised. He continuted with some stuff about people being drunk when they get intervened, and some other stuff that I thought was odd. I didn't really feel like discussing it at the time, but I just saw a post that has me curious.
A little background first. I took college courses for substance abuse counseling about 20 years ago. At that time interventions were a fairly new thing. I took some training regarding them, and I remember distinctly the professor saying that intervention work, 100% of the time. That made no sense to me whatsoever, and even with his explanation I don't believe its true - but he said that the purpose of an intervention was to get somebody into the recovery process. And as far as that's concerned, it's always successful. Again, not here to argue that, I never believed it, BUT...
There were things I learned that were absolutes before attempting any kind of intervention. First and formost was that it had to be planned for a time you know the person is going to be sober. There are, at the very least, brief hungover moments in every alcoholics life, and intervening at that time was essential. It would't be attempted if the person was under the influence.
Secondly, the people who were going to participate had to meet with the therapist performing the intervention several times before it was done. Many things had to be worked out and many things had to be understood. Everyone involved had to have some concrete incident(s) on how the users use had negatively affected their lives, and it had to be presented to the person in a manner that showed how the person talking was hurt by it. Devoid of any blame or anger. Most people need a little coaching in this. Finally, the recovery plan needed to be laid out - hospital chosen, way to get there, bed ready, and probably most importantly responsibilities taken care of. If the alcoholic/addict has job or family responsibilities that they must tend to, all that is worked out before the intervention. A plan is set so there can be no reason the person can say, "I can't do this right now".
That's the short story of what I learned. I've a feeling much has changed regarding this, and I'm suspecting not necessarily for the better. Can someone please fill me in on what is expected nowadays in an intervention? What the protocol is? I really know nothing about them aside from what I learned back then, which seemed like a really great thing.
A little background first. I took college courses for substance abuse counseling about 20 years ago. At that time interventions were a fairly new thing. I took some training regarding them, and I remember distinctly the professor saying that intervention work, 100% of the time. That made no sense to me whatsoever, and even with his explanation I don't believe its true - but he said that the purpose of an intervention was to get somebody into the recovery process. And as far as that's concerned, it's always successful. Again, not here to argue that, I never believed it, BUT...
There were things I learned that were absolutes before attempting any kind of intervention. First and formost was that it had to be planned for a time you know the person is going to be sober. There are, at the very least, brief hungover moments in every alcoholics life, and intervening at that time was essential. It would't be attempted if the person was under the influence.
Secondly, the people who were going to participate had to meet with the therapist performing the intervention several times before it was done. Many things had to be worked out and many things had to be understood. Everyone involved had to have some concrete incident(s) on how the users use had negatively affected their lives, and it had to be presented to the person in a manner that showed how the person talking was hurt by it. Devoid of any blame or anger. Most people need a little coaching in this. Finally, the recovery plan needed to be laid out - hospital chosen, way to get there, bed ready, and probably most importantly responsibilities taken care of. If the alcoholic/addict has job or family responsibilities that they must tend to, all that is worked out before the intervention. A plan is set so there can be no reason the person can say, "I can't do this right now".
That's the short story of what I learned. I've a feeling much has changed regarding this, and I'm suspecting not necessarily for the better. Can someone please fill me in on what is expected nowadays in an intervention? What the protocol is? I really know nothing about them aside from what I learned back then, which seemed like a really great thing.
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central America/Florida USA
Posts: 4,064
For me, an intervention would have probably been soul-crushing. My family just had a few "people over" after I got out of detox, to get together for sandwiches on the porch. I knew what they were doing, approaching me with rehab, and talking to me about it as a group - the key part was that I was a part of that group too, I felt like I had a voice. Nothing was decided for me behind my back. Or at least it wasn't presented that way. I agreed and it was very helpful.
I would not have liked the style of 'intervention' you presented above, I would have felt powerless and patronized. That is just me.
I would not have liked the style of 'intervention' you presented above, I would have felt powerless and patronized. That is just me.
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Midwest USA
Posts: 2,284
If family/friends did it intervention I might or might not agree. I would have to be flown to Hazelton, Betty Ford, Malibu Shores or some other top notch rehab facility. I would refuse if the intervention if I was going to some state funded program where the beds are uncomfortable & the food is horrible.
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LA - Lower Alabama
Posts: 5,068
Interventions can work. An intervention is designed to bring the bottom up to the A before the A hits rock bottom. I participated in an intervention 17 years ago, before I became a candidate for one.
We had an experienced counselor who was also a friend of the guy, and also lined up his family, friends, boss, and pastor. Everyone was on the same page, and the boss was going to give him paid leave of absence during rehab. The message: get help today, or you lose your friends, family, job and home.
It went well. He had objections ("how will I pay my bills?") which we had smooth answers for, and he quickly got up, packed a bag, made one last double vodka and left. 90 days later he was a changed man. He has now been sober for 17 years with one slip.
My only advice is to get everyone on board. If there is an enabler that is stubborn and isn't on board, it can ruin everything.
Good luck.
We had an experienced counselor who was also a friend of the guy, and also lined up his family, friends, boss, and pastor. Everyone was on the same page, and the boss was going to give him paid leave of absence during rehab. The message: get help today, or you lose your friends, family, job and home.
It went well. He had objections ("how will I pay my bills?") which we had smooth answers for, and he quickly got up, packed a bag, made one last double vodka and left. 90 days later he was a changed man. He has now been sober for 17 years with one slip.
My only advice is to get everyone on board. If there is an enabler that is stubborn and isn't on board, it can ruin everything.
Good luck.
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Been to Hell and Back
Posts: 1,157
Originally Posted by Justfor1 
If family/friends did it intervention I might or might not agree. I would have to be flown to Hazelton, Betty Ford, Malibu Shores or some other top notch rehab facility. I would refuse if the intervention if I was going to some state funded program where the beds are uncomfortable & the food is horrible.
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 929
Originally Posted by Justfor1
If family/friends did it intervention I might or might not agree. I would have to be flown to Hazelton, Betty Ford, Malibu Shores or some other top notch rehab facility. I would refuse if the intervention if I was going to some state funded program where the beds are uncomfortable & the food is horrible.
Wouldn't your veteran benefits cover such an event?
Program Description
The Veterans Alcohol and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Program provides medical, social, vocational, and rehabilitation therapies to eligible alcohol and drug dependent veterans. The programs offer various forms of treatment including detoxification, rehabilitation, and psychiatric care. Treatment programs are located in VA medical centers and clinics.
Benefits.gov - VA - Health Care - Veterans Alcohol and Drug Dependence Rehabilitation Program
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
Feb. 1990 i had an accident at 2am running
off the road less than a mile from home. I hit
a concrete culvert sitting on top the ground
sustaining a punctured spleen and numerous
broken bones and contusions. I spent 10days
in the hospital before returning home to mend
and raise my family.
I healed quickly with pain meds and no alcohol.
August 1990, i went back to the same club like
i did in February returning home late like I did
before. Another argument like before, then on
a dare that I would end my miserable failure of
a life i down a hand full of pain pills from my
accident with wine and off to bed with no worries
about the next day.
My little ones couldnt wake me and red flags
flew high with worry from my family. Then in
a distant, i heard the phone ringing which was
right next to my bed. Even tho it was just my
mother-in-law calling, i still believe today that
it was my HP waking me up to let me know He
wasnt thru with me yet.
Hour or so later i can recall my husband trying
to get me to the car to go to the hospital to get
my stomach pumped, but i fought him off as i
told him i had thrown up all that crap in my system
and was ok.
Before i knew it the house was quiet for a while
then my husband and his dad walked in our back
door with 2 officers explaining that they were there
to escort me to the court house for a court order
to have me committed to the hospital for evaluation.
I sat in the back of the handless police car and
fenced in like a criminal, ashamed, pissed, angry
because i wouldnt hurt a flee. That night i spent
in the phyciatric ward frightened as i watched
hopeless, sick patiants hug the walls, mumbling
and shuffling across the floor. As i watched i know
i wasnt that far gone and so the next day i spent
passing all the test they gave me to have them
tell me that my only problem was i couldnt handle
alcohol and that i was possibly and alcoholic.
For the next 28 days i spent learning and recieving
the tools and knowledge of my alcoholism and
how to live each day without it. Before being released
they told me if i had left earlier that i would surely
relapse and wanted to send me to a halfway house.
I begged to do whatever i needed to do to not be
sent away from my little one again and they agreed
to let me add a 6 week outpatiant aftercare program
and could go home.
That was enough to scare me into doing all i could
to stay sober and because i was stubborn and defiant
i wanted to show all those who had no faith in me,
i would and could stay sober no matter what.
And I have for the past 22 yrs. So yes for me intervention
did work and i believe in it because i dont think i could
have stay sober on my own without help and i wasnt
gonna ask for it.
That's my experience and hope it sheds some help for
you.
off the road less than a mile from home. I hit
a concrete culvert sitting on top the ground
sustaining a punctured spleen and numerous
broken bones and contusions. I spent 10days
in the hospital before returning home to mend
and raise my family.
I healed quickly with pain meds and no alcohol.
August 1990, i went back to the same club like
i did in February returning home late like I did
before. Another argument like before, then on
a dare that I would end my miserable failure of
a life i down a hand full of pain pills from my
accident with wine and off to bed with no worries
about the next day.
My little ones couldnt wake me and red flags
flew high with worry from my family. Then in
a distant, i heard the phone ringing which was
right next to my bed. Even tho it was just my
mother-in-law calling, i still believe today that
it was my HP waking me up to let me know He
wasnt thru with me yet.
Hour or so later i can recall my husband trying
to get me to the car to go to the hospital to get
my stomach pumped, but i fought him off as i
told him i had thrown up all that crap in my system
and was ok.
Before i knew it the house was quiet for a while
then my husband and his dad walked in our back
door with 2 officers explaining that they were there
to escort me to the court house for a court order
to have me committed to the hospital for evaluation.
I sat in the back of the handless police car and
fenced in like a criminal, ashamed, pissed, angry
because i wouldnt hurt a flee. That night i spent
in the phyciatric ward frightened as i watched
hopeless, sick patiants hug the walls, mumbling
and shuffling across the floor. As i watched i know
i wasnt that far gone and so the next day i spent
passing all the test they gave me to have them
tell me that my only problem was i couldnt handle
alcohol and that i was possibly and alcoholic.
For the next 28 days i spent learning and recieving
the tools and knowledge of my alcoholism and
how to live each day without it. Before being released
they told me if i had left earlier that i would surely
relapse and wanted to send me to a halfway house.
I begged to do whatever i needed to do to not be
sent away from my little one again and they agreed
to let me add a 6 week outpatiant aftercare program
and could go home.
That was enough to scare me into doing all i could
to stay sober and because i was stubborn and defiant
i wanted to show all those who had no faith in me,
i would and could stay sober no matter what.
And I have for the past 22 yrs. So yes for me intervention
did work and i believe in it because i dont think i could
have stay sober on my own without help and i wasnt
gonna ask for it.
That's my experience and hope it sheds some help for
you.
A work in progress
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 16,633
I think a lot of people try to stage impromptu interventions without the assistance or advice of a professional.
Occasionally, they may work, if the person happens to be at a low point and the stars are in alignment.
Watching Intervention on TV doesn't qualify you to know how to do one, any more than watching medical programs qualifies you to do brain surgery. Improperly done, they can do more harm than good.
Informal, one-to-one discussions sometimes do help--especially if it is with someone who isn't as close to the problem: lawyers, doctors, friends who haven't seen the alcoholic in a long time and who express shock and dismay at his/her condition. But planned, group intervention without professional guidance is something that seems too risky, to me.
Occasionally, they may work, if the person happens to be at a low point and the stars are in alignment.
Watching Intervention on TV doesn't qualify you to know how to do one, any more than watching medical programs qualifies you to do brain surgery. Improperly done, they can do more harm than good.
Informal, one-to-one discussions sometimes do help--especially if it is with someone who isn't as close to the problem: lawyers, doctors, friends who haven't seen the alcoholic in a long time and who express shock and dismay at his/her condition. But planned, group intervention without professional guidance is something that seems too risky, to me.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bklyn. NY
Posts: 1,859
Originally Posted by LexieCat
I think a lot of people try to stage impromptu interventions without the assistance or advice of a professional.
Occasionally, they may work, if the person happens to be at a low point and the stars are in alignment.
Watching Intervention on TV doesn't qualify you to know how to do one, any more than watching medical programs qualifies you to do brain surgery. Improperly done, they can do more harm than good.
Informal, one-to-one discussions sometimes do help--especially if it is with someone who isn't as close to the problem: lawyers, doctors, friends who haven't seen the alcoholic in a long time and who express shock and dismay at his/her condition. But planned, group intervention without professional guidance is something that seems too risky, to me.
Occasionally, they may work, if the person happens to be at a low point and the stars are in alignment.
Watching Intervention on TV doesn't qualify you to know how to do one, any more than watching medical programs qualifies you to do brain surgery. Improperly done, they can do more harm than good.
Informal, one-to-one discussions sometimes do help--especially if it is with someone who isn't as close to the problem: lawyers, doctors, friends who haven't seen the alcoholic in a long time and who express shock and dismay at his/her condition. But planned, group intervention without professional guidance is something that seems too risky, to me.
And just to clarify, I'm not looking to do an intervention on anyone. Just curious about how people define them nowadays. I'm getting the impression that people now sometimes get together on their own and just bombard the alcoholic/addict whenever they can, thinking this is an intervention.
A work in progress
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 16,633
That's my sense of it.
And just to be clear, I haven't had any professional training for substance abuse treatment or counseling or anything, but the authorities I respect have repeatedly stressed it isn't something to undertake on your own. And I don't believe that is their protecting their professional "turf." It's a delicate undertaking that, done incorrectly, could simply reinforce the alcoholic's sense that everyone is against him, that he's worthless and has done too much damage to ever hope to fix. Conceivably it could push someone on the verge of suicide over the edge.
And just to be clear, I haven't had any professional training for substance abuse treatment or counseling or anything, but the authorities I respect have repeatedly stressed it isn't something to undertake on your own. And I don't believe that is their protecting their professional "turf." It's a delicate undertaking that, done incorrectly, could simply reinforce the alcoholic's sense that everyone is against him, that he's worthless and has done too much damage to ever hope to fix. Conceivably it could push someone on the verge of suicide over the edge.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bklyn. NY
Posts: 1,859
This:
I believe, is the whole point behind this:
Pretty much anyone in active addiction would be 150% against an intervention. It used to only be considered as an absolute last resort only, for someone who it was clear was never going to get it on their own. Or ever agree to any kind of treatment. It's something that must been done carefully, by people who know what they are doing, and with a whole lot of thought, preperation, love, and concern. Anything else could be disasterous, and cause much more harm than good.
I get a sense however that interventions are now attempted without any knowledge of what they are supposed to be. Trying to find out if that sense is accurate. I should go back to my friends in the OP and have the discussion I didn't feel up to that night.
Straight out question: Do people nowadays attempt interventions when the person is high or drunk?
Originally Posted by escapist
I would fight tooth and nail, no matter if I were sober at the time or not. I am such a control freak. I am stubborn too. Some of us just have to do it the hard way I guess.
Originally Posted by LexieCat
That's my sense of it.
And just to be clear, I haven't had any professional training for substance abuse treatment or counseling or anything, but the authorities I respect have repeatedly stressed it isn't something to undertake on your own. And I don't believe that is their protecting their professional "turf." It's a delicate undertaking that, done incorrectly, could simply reinforce the alcoholic's sense that everyone is against him, that he's worthless and has done too much damage to ever hope to fix. Conceivably it could push someone on the verge of suicide over the edge.
And just to be clear, I haven't had any professional training for substance abuse treatment or counseling or anything, but the authorities I respect have repeatedly stressed it isn't something to undertake on your own. And I don't believe that is their protecting their professional "turf." It's a delicate undertaking that, done incorrectly, could simply reinforce the alcoholic's sense that everyone is against him, that he's worthless and has done too much damage to ever hope to fix. Conceivably it could push someone on the verge of suicide over the edge.
I get a sense however that interventions are now attempted without any knowledge of what they are supposed to be. Trying to find out if that sense is accurate. I should go back to my friends in the OP and have the discussion I didn't feel up to that night.
Straight out question: Do people nowadays attempt interventions when the person is high or drunk?
A work in progress
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 16,633
I'm sure "people" do. I doubt that professionals do.
Those who know what they're doing, that is. I imagine just about anyone could hang out a shingle and call him/herself and "interventionist"--as far as I know it isn't a regulated field, but rather a subspecialty of addiction treatment in general. And everyone knows that even having the credential doesn't necessarily make someone well-qualified to practice. I know plenty of incompetent lawyers with licenses.
Those who know what they're doing, that is. I imagine just about anyone could hang out a shingle and call him/herself and "interventionist"--as far as I know it isn't a regulated field, but rather a subspecialty of addiction treatment in general. And everyone knows that even having the credential doesn't necessarily make someone well-qualified to practice. I know plenty of incompetent lawyers with licenses.
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