Tips for a Successful Intervention

Staging an intervention to persuade an alcoholic to seek treatment is a complicated undertaking, but you can increase the chances of success with these tips for a successful intervention. First, this point may seem obvious, but the intervention must happen at a time the alcoholic is sober. An intervention with someone who is currently under the influence of alcohol is a waste of time.

Second, the ideal time to do an intervention is immediately following a major crisis related to drinking. An alcoholic who has recently been confronted with their own addiction-related patterns of lying, theft, or driving drunk will be more receptive to feeling remorse and thus more open to seeing their need for professional help and rehabilitation.

Third, while the testimony of loved ones is an important part of any intervention, there is research showing that involvement from an employer can be especially helpful in producing results, particularly for men. If drinking is negatively affecting work performance and the employer is at the intervention with documentation of this problem, the chances of the alcoholic taking the situation more seriously are increased. Research has demonstrated both improved job performance and lessened drinking in alcoholics whose interventions included their employers.

Interventions are not a panacea; ultimately it is the alcoholic who must freely choose to accept treatment for a change to happen. However, carefully planned and timed interventions that include the presence and involvement of an addiction expert have a good chance of success.