Drug addiction grips its victims with insidious claws, leading them through periods of self-destruction, self-loathing, and self-obsession. When a loved one falls privy to an addiction, hope slips out of family member’s grasps. When an addict is high or drunk, family members cannot break the communication barrier to penetrate the addict’s logical brain. Due to the unconditional love among family members, non-addict members are prime candidates to be manipulated and deceived by the addict. They are frequently fooled by the addict’s promise to quit drugs, or believe him when he says “this is the last time”.

An addicted teenage son is not himself in front of his parents when he is loaded. His parents unintentionally enable him by providing him with money on a weekly basis. He claims he’s spending it on school books — but behind their backs he is purchasing drugs. The uncharacteristic behavior typical of an addict, combined with family member’s mixed emotions of pain and hope, can lead to a volatile family dynamic. Herein lies the benefit of a drug addiction interventionist.

Drug Addiction Interventionists

A professional interventionist is not susceptible to manipulation by the addict. They know that with addiction, comes lying and manipulation, and they can decipher transparency from deceit. An addict recognizes this fact, and presents the full scope of the addict’s problem in a multidimensional light.

Interventionists are well-trained in the fields of addiction and alcoholism. They often withhold years of relevant experience — spanning across a wide range of demographics and addictions. Drug addiction interventionists are hired by family members to help orchestrate a drug intervention. The interventionist coordinates the intervention with the addict’s family members and closest friends. Family members and close friends begin by arming the interventionist with as much information as they can conjure up. They notate details of the addict’s chemical dependence, historical time line of drug use, and resulting shifts in behavioral patterns. Mood swings, agitation, and other uncharacteristic qualities are discussed with the interventionist. Pre-intervention collaboration is crucial to the overall success of the actual intervention.

Interventionists Drug Addicts Approach

After compiling an adequate amount of personal data about the addict, the interventionist plans his or her approach accordingly. All parties involve pick a time and place in which the addict will be unknowingly guided into the room. Some families choose an alias such as an “interview” or another type of event in which to tell the addict to attend. Doing so ensures that the addict remains in the dark about the fact that he or she is walking into a planned intervention.

A drug addiction intervention is a pre-planned meeting in which family members read letters to the addict, expressing exactly how the addiction has impacted their lives. They are given the opportunity to confront the addict face-to-face. A professional interventionist stays in the room to lead and mediate the exchange as needed.

Addicts spiral out control by means of their drug addiction. Due to the progressive and terminal nature of drug addiction, interventions are particularly useful. Very few addicts actually “hit bottom” and seek treatment as a result. A greater portion of addicts respond positively to interventions, however – the odds are favorable for a successful outcome. An outpouring of love and concern from loved ones, combined with the guidance of a professional interventionist, often pushes the addict over the edge.

The sick family dynamic that drug addiction leads to is illustrated by an unbiased professional. Although the drug addict is accustomed to making false promises to family members and resorting to manipulation in seeking self-centered objectives, they lose that ability in the presence of a drug addiction interventionist.

What the Interventionists Job Consists of

The interventionist also specializes in drafting a customized treatment regimen on a per-client basis. Drug addiction interventionists incorporate a long-term recovery plan, aftercare plan, and possibly case management, into the overall offer to the addict. The interventionist also provides advice and guidance for family members, particularly in cases where the addict accepts the offer for treatment. Interventionists are also hired to help lead the addict to an inpatient rehabilitation center.

Once the “identified patient”, i.e. the addict, leaves the family system, family members are forced to adjust to the tectonic shift in family functioning. Non-addict family members face their own battles, such as:

• Overcoming mistrust and anger directed toward the addict
• Replacing energy devoted toward the addiction with healthy alternatives
• Expressing needs in new, healthy ways – taking care of themselves first and foremost
• Breaking patterns of codependent behavior
• Maintaining the prevention of enabling the addict going forward
• Learning how to respond appropriately in the event of a drug relapse

The shift in the family dynamic is often profound. Interventionists understand the intricacies within families of addicts and can help manage the changes in an effective, healthy way.