How to Stage an Intervention
Substance use and addiction can wreak havoc on the addict and their friends and family. If you are living with a person addicted to opioids or other substances, you know the pain and heartbreak that addiction causes. It is natural to want to help the addicted person, but few know how.
How to Stage an Intervention: Reality TV Has Lied To You
Conducting a Drug or Alcohol Intervention for Loved Ones
Intervention refers to a plan of action to assist another who is in need of help. It is usually used in the context of mental disorders, particularly substance use disorder. Modern media often depicts intervention as adversarial in nature, where the person with substance use disorder is confronted by friends and family in an effort to manipulate them into treatment. Medial portrayals also frequently depict the process as a staged event sprung on the target as a surprise. In the most extreme depictions, the target of intervention is abducted against their will, but in most depictions the target is lured into intervention through some form of deception (such as lying to the target about the purpose of the event).
Once the target of the intervention has been brought in front of friends and family, the manipulation continues as the gathered loved ones give emotional speeches about the impact of that person's substance use on their lives. At the end of these speeches, the target of intervention is offered an ultimatum—enter treatment now or face consequences such as being cut off from monetary support, housing, or relationships.
Though the media depictions of intervention are dramatic and make for good television, they are not very effective in the treatment of substance use disorder. The naked truth is that treatment is not possible without investment from the patient themselves. If an addict thinks they are being manipulated into treatment, they will not participate fully and the treatment will fail or they may even have a strong negative reaction which poisons future attempts at treatment and erodes trust. Ultimatums are rarely effective in motivating addicts to seek treatment. (Though setting boundaries with an addict is healthy behavior.)
If adversarial intervention is unhelpful, how can we help addicts seek care for their substance use disorder?
The best modern method is known as motivational interviewing. The basic idea is that external arguments rarely change a person's mind and that internal motivation is more likely to result in lasting change in behavior. Rather than attempting to emotionally manipulate an addict or convince them with logical arguments, it is more productive to guide them into making better decisions by themselves.
A basic technique in motivational interviewing is to establish the person's internal motivations. First ask permission to discuss their substance use. If the person is not ready, ask them if you can ask again next week. Let them have control of setting a time. If they do consent to speak, start by asking them the positive results of their drug use.
This typically disarms the person, but assuming they trust you, they will usually have at least one answer to the question. Sometimes this topic will lead directly into the harms of use (ie “I like how drinking relaxes me, but I hate the hangovers.”), but if it does not, next ask the person about the harms of their substance use after they finish listing the benefits. Listen attentively and try not to interrupt. Ask their permission to write down the benefits and harms in a table. If the person you are interviewing seems stuck, gently coax them into speaking more but try not to dominate the conversation.
After they list out the benefits and harms, you can reiterate the list and ask if it is complete or if there are any others they missed. Now ask the person how likely they are to seek treatment today on a scale of zero to ten, with zero meaning not at all and ten meaning they are ready right now. If they answer zero, then they are not ready and it is fruitless to attempt to manipulate them into treatment; instead ask when you can reevaluate the topic. Sometimes simply forcing the person to list their motivations is enough to plant a seed of change in their mind and that seed can grow into actual motivation in the future.
If the person answers anything between one and nine, ask them why they did not choose a lower number. This question is disarming and often sparks useful conversation about their motivations. More importantly, it forces the person to evaluate their own motivations and reexamine them. The goal is not to force the person into treatment today but rather change their thinking and motivation to seek treatment themselves.
If the person answers a ten, be ready with a plan to seek treatment. It is best if you have already arranged an appointment with a doctor or treatment center, but at the very least have a plan in place to schedule an appointment for evaluation.
At North Tampa Executive Health, we do not participate in “interventions” but we are ready and willing to schedule appointments with patients who are ready to enter treatment for their opioid and alcohol use disorder. Contact us to today to schedule an appointment for an initial evaluation.
If you or someone you love is suffering from problematic drug or alcohol addiction use and is seeking treatment, contact the clinic by calling or clicking the “Get Started” button in order to schedule a discovery call and initial evaluation, both of which are free.
We are here to help.
North Tampa Executive Health Clinic is directed by Dr. Jack McGeachy. He provides confidential and comfortable addiction treatments and therapy for opioid and alcohol use disorder. Rather than a rehab or detox, meaning that each patient is cared for one-on-one by a medical doctor, in contrast to other treatment programs. Heed Help? Book your in office appointment in the Tampa office or via video conferencing today.
Helping patients with addictions in Tampa Florida, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Bloomingdale, Carrollwood, Thonotosassa, Town N Country, Lutz, Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes, St. Pete, Clearwater, Oldsmar, Westchase, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.
