Where Can I Find Alcohol Intervention Services?

If your loved one has been struggling with an addiction to alcohol for a long time, you may have wondered if an intervention is the answer. You have probably tried everything to get them to understand the seriousness of their problem. Should you use an intervention service, and where can you find one?

An intervention is an excellent choice if you are dealing with an alcoholic who:

• Is in denial about their substance abuse
• Tends to get violent or self-destructive
• Has threatened suicide
• Also has a mental illness

Benefits of an Intervention

Why would an intervention succeed where you can’t? When you can’t do something, hiring a trained expert is a smart move.

• An interventionist is a neutral outsider. A professional interventionist shares your goal. You both want the addict to get treatment. But they’re not a family member, friend, spouse or partner. They can remain emotionally detached enough to do what is necessary. They can also help you see how your behavior might be making things worse.
• They don’t take no for an answer. Without losing their cool, the interventionist hammers home repeatedly the idea that this intervention is only going to end one way. They never give up on the goal of getting your family member to agree to get treatment.
• Interventionists speak the addict’s language. You may feel like you can never get through to a family member who’s deep into addiction. A professional interventionist is usually someone who has been there and got out. They understand the way an addict thinks.

Intervention Success Rates

Professional intervention has an extremely high success rate if you measure success as getting someone to agree to get treatment. Almost all interventions conclude with the person agreeing to enter a residential treatment facility. The problem is that this goal, while extremely important, is not enough.

Relapse rates after treatment for alcohol abuse are as high, although they’re not as high as relapses from other drugs. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, among those who got treated the first time, the relapse rate was about 40% one year after stopping. The relapse rate for opiates, by comparison, is 85% one year after stopping, and it’s a staggering 93% for methamphetamine addiction.

That’s why getting your family member to treatment is just the first step. You must accept that your family member probably won’t stop after one round of treatment. It may take several stays in treatment, and it will require lifelong support from therapists and support groups. The good news is that millions of people have successfully conquered their alcohol dependence. They did it by resolving to get sober, finding the right treatment and getting the lifelong support they needed.

Where To Find an Interventionist

There are several places you can turn to when looking for an interventionist.

• Social workers: Contact a local social worker who works with private clients, or look for one at your local hospital. Social workers are often useful sources of information on anything addiction-related.
• Community mental health clinic: These clinics tend to serve a large population of addicts. Check with one of them for a referral.
• Faith-based addiction counseling centers: You can often get a referral from these providers.
• Doctor: If your loved one has been treated by a doctor or at the emergency room, ask the doctor for a referral.
• Professional association: Contact the Association of Intervention Specialists or the Network of Independent Interventionists.
<h2>Stage a Successful Intervention</h2>
Interventions work best when they are well-planned. To stage a successful one, keep these tips in mind.

Choose your interventionist carefully. Ask about their approach to interventions and their experience. This is an area where experience matters more than any credentials. Ask for the names of other clients the person has worked with, and do some research to find out more about the person. Never trust your loved one’s future to someone you haven’t thoroughly vetted.

Don’t use the intervention to vent about your feelings or past hurts. It’s important to let the addict know you hurt, but the focus should be on them.

Stick to your purpose. The intervention should be calm and focused. Emotions will naturally run high, so keep returning to the main point. Keeping your focus will help you stay calm.

Get Help for Your Loved One

If you’re ready to get your loved one into treatment, contact us. Our counselors are available 24-7 to help you find a treatment center and plan your intervention. Call 833-610-1174.